How Do Swimmers Keep Their Skin and Hair Healthy?

By bustedcoverage
man swimming on body of water

Photo by Todd Quackenbush

If you are a swimmer then you must be aware of the challenges swimmers often face when it comes to maintaining healthy skin and hair due to prolonged exposure to chlorine or saltwater and other environmental factors. Spending a lot of time underwater can impact your skin and hair and leave it damaged. Yet, swimmers are working as brand ambassadors for skincare products and proudly flashing their gorgeous hair. How’s this possible? Thanks to the right care.

Here’s all you need to know about keeping your skin and hair healthy as a swimmer:

How Swimmers Take Care of Their Skin

Here are a few things swimmers do to keep their skin looking fresh and healthy:

Taking a quick shower or rinsing with fresh water before entering the pool or ocean can help hydrate the skin and create a barrier that minimizes the absorption of chlorine or saltwater. You don’t have to spend hours in the shower, only a minute can be enough. 

Similarly, take a shower after a session to ensure no bacteria or chemicals stay on your skin. 

Consider applying a layer of petroleum jelly or a specially formulated swimmer’s lotion to create a protective barrier on the skin. This should be done before swimming to protect your skin. Furthermore, there are even moisturizers that can be applied before a session to prevent issues.

This can help reduce the drying effects of chlorine or saltwater. This is important even if you are not going to the beach because chemicals present in the pool can also harm your skin.

We suggest that you moisturize the skin after a swimming session to replenish lost moisture. Taking a deep can leave your skin dry and not applying a moisturizer can increase the risk of issues such as psoriasis and acne. Moreover, moisturizers prevent dryness and irritation.

There are a variety of moisturizers out there, some with special vitamins and minerals to keep your skin fresh and acne free. Plus, some even have SPF to protect against the sun but we don’t think that a moisturizer that doubles as sunscreen may be enough for most people

Even if you swim indoors, it’s important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Apply a waterproof sunscreen with a high SPF to exposed areas of the skin before swimming. Most experts suggest getting your hands on a product with SPF 30 or higher. Moreover, some sunscreens are specifically designed for swimmers and work well for people who spend a lot of time underwater. It might be a good idea to get a product made for swimmers so that it doesn’t rub off when you enter the pool.

How Swimmers Take Care of Their Hair

Now that we know about the skin, let’s talk about hair care.

This might sound like an odd suggestion to some but most swimmers follow the ritual of wetting the hair before entering the pool. Use clean water for the job as it provides a layer of protection and saturates your hair, thus minimizing the absorption of chlorine or saltwater.

Note: you will not have to do this if you take a shower before a session. 

A swim cap can create a protective barrier and reduce the amount of water and chemicals that come into contact with your hair. There are many swim caps on the market and they don’t just cover the hair but some also protect the ear, as a result, you can swim without any worries and come up with healthy hair.

We cannot overemphasize the importance of shampooing after swimming. Merely showering or rinsing your hair may not be enough, it is important that you use swimmers shampoo after swimming session and swimmers conditioner before and/or after to ensure no chlorine stays in your hair.

 

Chlorine and other chemicals in the pool water can damage and dry out your hair, leading to brittleness, frizz, and discoloration. Shampooing helps to remove these chemicals and restore your hair’s natural moisture balance. Moreover, swimming can cause your hair to become tangled and matted, especially if you wear a swim cap. Shampooing helps to remove these tangles and knots, leaving your hair feeling soft and smooth.

In addition, it is believed that swimming can cause your hair to become weighed down by water and other substances, such as sunscreen or sweat. Shampooing helps to remove this build-up and leaves your hair feeling light and clean. 

All in all, shampooing isn’t only important to keep your hair looking shiny and good, but also to reduce the risk of inflammation, itchy scalp, hair loss, and other such issues.

Regularly deep condition your hair to restore moisture and minimize damage caused by swimming. Shampooing alone might not be enough due to the presence of chemicals in the pool water. Use a hydrating hair mask or conditioner that replenishes moisture and nourishes your hair.

Most conditioners are to be used right after shampooing but some pre-shower conditioners are also available. Make sure to go through the instructions given on the product that you use to ensure you get the best results.

Just like your skin, your hair can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays. Consider wearing a hat or using hair products that contain UV filters to protect your hair from sun damage.

Also, be gentle when trying to dry your hair. You will otherwise end up damaging your hair.

This is all you need to know about how swimmers keep their skin and hair healthy. The truth is that swimmers also struggle to maintain their hair and skin. You will find some pros with acne, hair fall, and other such issues. The key lies in using the right products, ensuring you don’t let chemicals such as chlorine stay on your body or hair, and turning to a professional if you notice signs of serious damage.

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