How to protect your skin when swimming

Written in association with: Professor Andrew Wright
Published:
Edited by: Laura Burgess

Learning to swim is generally considered essential and is potentially lifesaving. Swimming is also a very good form of exercise and should be part of everybody’s healthy lifestyle. However, swimming pools are often not the safest of places for people with skin conditions and the disinfectants used to keep pools clean can cause skin problems with significant skin irritation and rashes, particularly in those with sensitive skin.

Professor Andrew Wright is a consultant dermatologist and a professor at the University of Bradford who has publicly voiced his concerns about the use of chlorine in swimming pools, including how the chemical is a potent irritant, especially for anyone who already lives with a skin condition and even for those who have asthma. Here, Professor Wright shares his expert advice on how you can reduce the risk of skin irritation when swimming.
 

Girl in swimming costume sat poolside.

How are swimming pools cleaned?

Most pools use a cleansing infiltration system which involves the use of chlorine or similar chemicals. These chemicals react with materials in the water such as dead skin to form so-called chloramines. These chemicals produce the smell that you often associate with chlorinated pools. It is the chloramines that cause skin irritation and discomfort, it is well recognised that they can also make asthma symptoms worse.

A small number of pools use other filtration systems, including ozone-based systems, these pools smell fresh and the water is cleaner and much less likely to irritate the skin. Unfortunately, systems such as these are relatively more expensive to install and operate but are much better systems, particularly for people with sensitive skin.
 

How to reduce the risks of skin irritation

There are several tips and advice which can be given to help reduce skin irritation, which includes the following:

  • Avoid warmer pools, the warmer the water the more disinfectant is needed. The worst pools are obviously hot tubs/Jacuzzis. Spending significant periods of time in hot tubs/Jacuzzis can cause a wide variety of skin problems.
  • If you do have sensitive skin or suffer from skin problems, look on the internet to see if any of your local pools use ozone or other low chlorine filtration systems.
  • If you are visiting a new pool and you are not sure what system they use don’t spend hours in the water the first time you go.
  • Shower on entering and leaving the water and apply moisturiser after showering. If you plan to spend a significant period of time in the water, using swimming as part of your training regime, then come out of the water for a short period of time and shower mid-way through.
  • One final tip for regular swimmers is to be careful with shampoo and products designed to go on hair and scalp, and not on the body. Always try to wash shampoo out without allowing the water to run down your body. This will significantly help to reduce any irritation that the shampoo can cause to sensitive skin.



If you’re living with skin complaints such as eczema or psoriasis, or feel concerned that you have an undiagnosed skin allergy, you can book an appointment with Professor Wright via his Top Doctor’s profile here

By Professor Andrew Wright
Dermatology

Professor Andrew Leslie Wright is a consultant dermatologist in Bradford and Leeds who specialises in eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer and skin allergies.

Having decided on specialising in dermatology, Professor Wright gained as much medical experience as possible by working in an infectious diseases unit, in chest medicine, cardiology and endocrinology. He spent six months working on a coronary care unit and six months in a casualty department where he gained experience with a wide variety of practical procedures.

Professor Wright spent six months in the Rupert Hallam Department of Dermatology, Sheffield as part of a medical rotation. He then spent 20 months in the University Department of Dermatology, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.

Professor Wright is committed to teaching undergraduate medical students both in the outpatient clinic and on formal lecture courses. He supervises students doing special study modules and examines Leeds University medical students. He is an honorary visiting professor at Bradford University and a member of the Centre for Skin Sciences at Bradford University.

He has appeared on television, both live and recorded, on numerous occasions and has performed many radio interviews, particularly with regards to sun awareness and skin cancer. He has most recently contributed to two episodes of the Channel 4 programme Embarrassing Bodies.

Professor Wright is a member of several professional societies, including the British Association of Dermatologists, European Contact Dermatitis Society, British Society for Investigative Dermatology and British Hair and Nail Society.

View Profile

Overall assessment of their patients


  • Related procedures
  • Laser
    Microdermoabrasion
    Treatment pigmented lesions
    Microneedling
    Platelet-rich plasma
    Dark circles
    Radiofrequency Facelift
    Lifting by radiofrequency
    Hands rejuvenation
    Cryolipolysis
    This website uses our own and third-party Cookies to compile information with the aim of improving our services, to show you advertising related to your preferences as well analysing your browsing habits. You can change your settings HERE.