Indeed, swimming is a lovely sport and a healthy exercise. It gives you fun, strengthens your muscle, add flexibility to your body, and help you lose extra flab. However, every benefit has a darker side. And swimming can make your skin dark, tanned. Apart from that, it can damage your hair, cause ear infection.
Chemical used in swimming pool can make skin tanned. It can vacate natural oils from the skin, resulting in dry and flaking skin. The chemicals can trouble your eyes and may cause fungal and bacterial infection.
However, a little care can help you enjoy swimming. You can protect your skin from the tan with little effort.
Before swimming skin care tips
- Shower prior swimming: You should take a shower prior swimming to remove chemical residue of the product you have used on the skin.
- Apply water-resistant sun screen before jumping in the pool: Never forget to wear high SPF water resistant sun screen before you enter a pool. A water-resistant sun screen can shield your skin against UV rays up to 40 minutes in the water.
- Prefer to go underwater in indoor pool: Chlorine and sun, when combines can be very harmful for your skin. It is almost next to impossible to get chlorine free pool but you can easily find indoor pool. There is very little chance that your skin will get tanned in indoor pool.
- Stay hydrated: Make sure to drink ample water a little before you plan swimming.
After swimming skin care tips
- Shower after swimming: Take a shower with warm water and gentle soap after swimming. It will rinse the chlorine away from the skin and hair. Reduced chlorine contact will avoid skin dryness and darkening.
- Moisturize: Prolonged swimming in chlorinated water can take away the natural moisture from the skin. Apply a good skin lightening moisture all over your damped body.
Go extra mile to protect your body and enjoy swimming
- Swim in clean pool: Make sure that pool is being cleaned on regular basis. Stagnant water in the pool gives rise to make water borne diseases. The bacteria and fungus in the filthy pool will harm your skin.
- Don comfortable swim dress. The fabric of the swimsuit should be stretchable and should dry quickly to keep you comfortable.
- Wear recommended accessories:
- Wear shower cap to protect your hair from the harms of chlorinated water.
- Wear swimming glasses to keep your eye protected from the chemically treated water.
- Insert ear plug: Ear infection is very common side effect of swimming. Ear plugs avoid letting the water into your ears. This will protect your ears from all the possible fungal infections.
- Wear water shoes: You may harm your foot by bumping in the sides or hitting broken tiles in the pool. So, it is advisable to wear water shoes while swimming. Generally, base of the pool is slippery. Water shoes help you make balance while standing in the pool.