ABC15 in Arizona reports on how to protect yourself from chlorine this summer. Experts at Arizona’s Integrated Health Center say that, “Chlorine even in small amounts, can be harmful over time leading to irritated skin, rashes and even premature aging.”
Before you swim, the center recommends:
Wet your skin with fresh water
Use a pre-swimming lotion
These steps, they claim, create a barrier between your skin and the chlorinated water.
If you spend extended amounts of time in the swimming pool, it’s hard (if not impossible) to keep the chlorine from attaching to your body. We recommend using our anti-chlorine products after you swim to make sure you get the chlorine off after swimming.
Whether you are just headed to the pool to relax, or for a serious workout, one thing is certain: When you are finished at the pool you’ll be reminded of it by the chlorine smell. How is it that after swimming chlorine has a way of just hanging around?
It’s the nature of chlorine. It’s a terrific sanitizer and clings on to all organic matter (read: you).
There is one secret that elite swimmers have and that’s how to get rid of chlorine after swimming and keep the chlorine smell confined to the swimming pool.
There is one secret that elite swimmers have and that’s how to get rid of chlorine after swimming and keep the chlorine smell confined to the swimming pool.
Avid and elite swimmers use personal care products specially made to remove chlorine.
In addition to a bunch of other personal care products, we make chlorine removal body wash for swimmers.
Our products are made in different strengths depending on what you need. Here’s the break down of each brand.
ELITE is made for elite athletes who are in the swimming pool more than 5 times per week.
Goodbye Chlorine is for fitness fanatics who are in the swimming pool up to 5 times per week.
Swimmer Kids is for kids who are learning to, or who love to swim.
Protect is for health nuts who want extra protection from chlorine in their daily lives.
A chlorine leak at the Strood Sports Center in Rochester, England sent four to the hospital to have their breathing checked. Reports indicate that everyone was okay and the pool was only temporarily closed until the leak was identified and fixed.
I think we are all grateful that chlorine is used in swimming pools, at least for the sanitizing health benefits–and for the use of chlorine at low, “safe” levels.
Chlorine, however, isn’t always safe. At much higher concentrations chlorine can be dangerous. It is so toxic in fact, that chlorine was one of the the first chemicals to be weaponized.
Chlorine gas, used on the infamous day of April 22, 1915, produces a greenish-yellow cloud that smells of bleach and immediately irritates the eyes, nose, lungs, and throat of those exposed to it. At high enough doses it kills by asphyxiation.
Let’s just say that chlorine is dangerous and is not to be messed around with. If you smell an unusually strong chlorine odor (yes stronger than “normal”) evacuate the pool and call you emergency number.
Pool chlorine leaks are rare, but not uncommon. Twice in the past year Berkely High School has had a chlorine leak. You’d think once would be enough, but apparently the problem wasn’t fixed properly after the first incident.
Here are some articles related to the Strood Sports Center chlorine leak:
One essential in every swimmer’s bag is soap. In this article we discuss:
What you should look for in a swimmer’s soap.
Alternative products to soap that you should consider.
Products that work well in combination with chlorine removing soaps.
You may be asking if soap removes chlorine? The answer is: yes it does, and here are soaps made just for swimmers.
What makes a good soap for swimmers?
When looking for soap that removes chlorine, find those that are made for swimmers. Swimming-specific soaps have special ingredients that neutralize chlorine. Quality soaps are also gentle and moisturizing.
Has these features:
Neutralize and gently wash away chlorine.
Moisturize your skin.
Chlorine is a tale of two stories. We are happy that it is sanitizing the swimming pool, but unhappy about wearing it around all day after swimming.
It’s a fact of a swimmer’s life, they have to deal with chlorine. Swimmers who want to look and smell like a normal person after swimming seek products that remove chlorine.
What alternatives are there to soap for swimmers?
When it comes to skin care for swimmers, there are a few alternatives to using soap.
Here are two products you should consider:
Shower Gel — Our anti-chlorine shower gel is highly effective at removing chlorine. It’s a product you should at least consider. Our customers often will use the shower gel at the swimming pool and the soap at home between swims.
Anti-Chlorine Spray — If you just want the strongest product that removes chlorine, try our
ELITE: For competitive athletes who are in the swimming pool more than 5 times per week.
Goodbye Chlorine: For avid swimmers who are in the swimming pool up to 5 times per week.
Swimmer Kids: For kids who love to, or who are learning to swim.
Protect: For people who want extra protection from chlorine.
Our soap is one of the most effective ways of removing chlorine after swimming. Use it in combination with our other products for maximum results.
What product do we recommend to use with soap?
Try our anti-chlorine lotion made for swimmers. It returns moisture to you skin that was lost to the chlorine in the swimming pool, and it also neutralizes chlorine just in case you missed any spots in the shower with the soap.
I speak for most all swimmers: We are extremely grateful for the discovery of chlorine and for sanitary swimming pools. Science ABC wrote an easy-to-read article explaining how chlorine works to keep our swimming pools sanitized.
The last point they make is that although we’re happy chlorine is used to keep our pools clean, it is also an irritant. Here is what they say:
Is Chlorine an Irritating Agent? While chlorine undeniably helps in decontaminating the water, the potential drawbacks of treating pool water with chlorine cannot be ignored. It has a very sharp, distinctive smell that is not particularly appealing to many people, and it can also cause itching of the skin, which is thoroughly irritating to swimmers. Hypochlorite ions can also stick to fabrics if not rinsed immediately after leaving the pool. This is the reason why the colors of swimsuits fade rather quickly. At unusually high levels, chlorine can even cause breathing problems and be hazardous to human health.
We make moisturizing skin lotion and hair conditioners for swimmers. If you would like to see these moisturizers for swimmers then follow these links: lotion and conditioner. See our buyer’s guide to find out which product line is best for you. Otherwise, keep reading.
Chlorine makes your hair and skin dry
If you’re swimming, you’re most likely swimming in a chlorinated swimming pool. It’s by far the most used method of sanitizing swimming pool and is very effective. That sanitizing effect, however, has it’s side effects. The most common complaint of avid swimmers is they have dry hair and skin (and smell like chlorine).
You’re not alone if you’ve been a frequent swimmer and have noticed your hair and skin becoming dry. “Swimmer’s hair” or dry, brittle and crunchy hair is a common swimmer stereotype not to mention that swimmers often smell like the same chlorinated swimming pool they use. What’s also common but not talked about as much is dry skin.
Chlorine irritates the skin of many swimmers. Some people call this “chlorine rash”. Whatever you call it: a rash, eczema, or dry skin, it’s terribly uncomfortable. Dry, itchy skin caused by chlorine can drive you crazy.
So here is what happens. Chlorine bonds to organic matter. This is how it sanitizes the water. And guess what? You are large organic matter. It follows then, that when you jump into the pool, chlorine bonds to you.
This chlorine bond s not easy to break. Have you ever thought that to get the chlorine off you will just take a longer, more thorough shower? And were you disappointed by the results? Of course, because chlorine forms a strong bond with your hair and skin. It has a way of just hanging around. The proof that chlorine is still on you is that you smell like the swimming pool long after getting out of it.
The proof that chlorine is still on you is that you smell like the swimming pool long after getting out of it.
Frustrating indeed. Instead of taking super long showers, what you need are products designed to release the chlorine bond and gently wash away the left over chemicals.
Moisturizer for Swimmers, lotion and conditioner
These are great moisturizers for swimmers: Our lotion and hair conditioners are designed to neutralize chlorine (and bromine), balance pH, and return moisture to your hair and skin.
These products contain moisturizers including Olive Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Cacao Seed Butter and She Butter as well as conditioners that quickly return moisture to your hair and skin.
The combination of: neutralizing chlorine, balancing pH and returning moisture makes these products ideal for avid swimmers.
