While chlorine is an effective option for disinfecting swimming pool water, it introduces challenges. In fact, chlorine can harm your eyes, hair, nails, lungs, and, yes, even your skin. Not only that, but depending on your age, existing skin condition, and several other factors, including the balance of chemicals in the water, chlorine can be anything from irritating to extremely harmful to your skin.
The purpose of chlorine
Chlorine is a chemical widely used in personal and public swimming pools. Chlorine is widely available in tablets, liquids, and powders and serves its primary purpose well.
The chemical sanitizes water in two key ways. It clarifies the water and kills most unwanted microbes that may be present in it. It also oxidizes the pool to attach to and eliminate organic matter in the water. Chlorine also effectively inhibits the growth of algae.
This organic matter can include anything from fallen leaves to bodily wastes, including sweat, oil, urine, or feces. If untreated, the pool water collects this matter and can cause significant issues. Organic material often carries germs, bacteria, and viruses that can cause water-borne infection and illness.
Chlorine effectively eliminates those contaminants. It attacks the disease-causing microorganisms that may be hanging out in the water and prepares a pool for swimming. However, that is not all the chemical does.
The irritating truth
Chlorine may be a long-standing disinfection success story. Still, the reality is that the very process that delivers such good results has an irritating downside: byproducts that are harmful to the skin (and the rest of your body).
When chlorine contacts water, a reaction forms hypochlorous acid. During this chlorination process, the hypochlorous acid breaks down the cellular components of pathogens to eliminate them.
That process is supposed to happen when a pool is treated with chlorine. However, it doesn’t stop there. Once these compounds are broken down, the hypochlorous acid combines them, forming what are known as chloramines.
Chloramines not only smell awful, but they also reduce the potency of the free chlorine remaining in the pool. This hinders the chlorine’s ability to further disinfect the water, making it easier for pathogens to survive in the pool and contaminate swimmers.
In addition to potentially causing illness, chloramines are also among the components that cause harm and irritation to the skin. But they aren’t the only issue.
The other effects of chlorine on the skin
Chlorine itself, as well as its byproducts, can have a dramatic impact on the outer layer of your skin. Some of the most common issues associated with chlorine exposure include:
- Dry Skin: The acid formed when chlorine contacts water is a natural irritant to the skin. The more time spent in contact with it, the more irritating it can be. Additionally, chlorinated water opens the pores, and hypochlorous acid essentially strips the natural oils from the skin, causing dry, itchy, and irritated skin. This drying effect may even be a contributing factor to premature aging.
- Rash: Considered irritant contact dermatitis, the rash commonly contracted with chlorine exposure is the chloramines in the pool attaching to the skin after long periods of exposure. The risk is greater depending on the amount of chlorine and body waste in the water; exposure may lead to a red, uncomfortable rash and inflammation that can progress to blisters or hives.
- Burns: Chlorine burns are a potential exposure hazard to a chlorinated pool or hot tub. This concern is more of an issue of poor ventilation that causes gas buildup; however, if your skin does come into contact with the byproducts or off-gas of pool chlorine, you can sustain burns, blisters, and hives.
- Exacerbated Conditions: If you already have hypersensitive skin from a pre-existing condition such as psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis, chlorine exposure will likely make it worse. The hypochloric acid in chlorinated water causes further inflammation of the skin, which can lead to increased pain, dryness, redness, itchiness, scaling, or rashing already present in the skin.
The best way to limit chlorine irritation
While avoiding chlorinated pools and hot tubs is the easiest preventative measure in theory, it may not be as easy in practice if you generally rely on a traditionally chlorinated facility. If that’s the case, there are still several things you can do to limit chlorine irritation, including:
- Apply vitamin C to your skin after exposure to chlorinated water to neutralize chlorine and chloramines on the skin.
- Showering immediately after swimming to remove any chlorine residue.
- Moisturizing your skin after you rinse to prevent irritation.
- Monitor chemical balance regularly and adjust pool chemicals to reduce chloramines and other irritants.
There are alternative pool chemicals if you own a private pool or hot tub. These include bromine, ionizers, and ozonation. They still require chlorine, but much less. Another alternative is PHMB, which does not require any chlorine. These solutions cost more than chlorine, but your health may be worth it. Consult with a pool and spa professional for your best option.
Reference: pubs.acs.org
While chlorine is an effective sanitizing solution, it is not without its downfalls. It would be best to avoid chlorine; however, at the very least, you should be aware of the risks and do your best to limit irritation if exposed. If you have a question about medical skin care, talk to a board-certified dermatologist.
Recently edited. Originally published March 13, 2018.