Question of the month July 2009: Swimming

Dear Paula,

I swim a couple of times a week for 60 to 90 minutes in a chlorinated pool. Is there any way to minimize the dryness of being in the water for that long plus rinsing off afterwards? Just wondering if you have any tips or suggestions as to how this might affect my skin. I know it's not so good to soak for prolonged periods in the bathtub, so I'm wondering what affect swimming has.

Zia via email

Dear Zia,

You’re right; prolonged soaking in water of any kind breaks down the skin’s intercellular matrix (the substances that keep skin cells connected—think of it as the mortar that holds the bricks of the skin cells together, creating the outer appearance of skin). There is nothing you can do about the time you spend in the water. Anything you would put on your skin would be depleted fairly quickly and just make a muck of the water (requiring the people who maintain the pool to use more chemicals to keep the water looking clear and pristine—and that’s not good for your skin either). The benefits of swimming far outweigh the negative effect on your skin, so aftercare is very important. Taking a shower afterward is incredibly important, but be sure to use a gentle or moisturizing body shampoo that won’t strip your skin any further (Dove and Olay have some great moisturizing body washes). When you get out of the shower, towel off gently and then apply a body lotion that contains ingredients that give your skin back what the swimming depleted, such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, lecithin, glycerin, and lots of antioxidants. That will restore to some extent what your time in the pool took away.

Paula Begoun