How to Remove Chlorine From Skin After Swimming: Home Remedies

• If you don't want the chlorine left after swimming, try some of these removal techniques

• If you swim regularly, you're probably used to the smell of chlorine. But not everyone likes to smell the pool all day. Additionally, chlorine can dry out your skin and damage your hair.

• There are a number of commercial anti-chlorine products for hair and skin.

Why is pool chlorine harmful?

• Chlorine added to pool water essentially opens your skin's pores and then releases hypochlorous acid which strips away natural oils. This leads to dry, itchy, and irritated skin, which can also damage your hair follicles. 

• It could lead to hair loss if you swim continuously and do not take measures to protect your hair. At some resorts, you can find a chemical-free pool, which could also cause a slight green tint to your hair if your hair contains chemicals that can react to copper ions in the pool.

Why You Should Protect Your Skin From Chlorine

• Swimming in a chlorinated pool means exposing yourself to known skin irritants that can cause dry and itchy skin.

• Research suggests that chlorine in swimming pools can increase asthma, cancer, and skin and throat irritation rates.

• When chlorine mixes with water, it forms hypochlorite, a bleaching agent that bleaches fabrics (have you ever noticed how discolored bathing suits are?).

How to make a chlorine remover yourself?

• If you don't want to buy a chlorine remover, you can try making your own chlorine remover.

• One of the most popular home remedies is to use vitamin C to make your own anti-chlorine spray after swimming.

• Ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate, essentially Vitamin C, neutralizes chlorine. It is the main ingredient in commercial chlorine removers.

How to use vitamin C to neutralize chlorine?

Follow the recipe carefully for good results.

Directions

• Mix 1/2 teaspoon of sodium ascorbate with 4 ounces of distilled water. Use within 24 hours. (The solution breaks down and loses its effectiveness after 24 hours.)

Directions for use

• Generously spray the After-Swim Chlorine Neutralizing Spray all over the skin immediately after swimming. 

• Vitamin C neutralizes chlorine.

Tip 

• Add a teaspoon of sodium ascorbate to an empty 8oz water bottle and take it to the pool. 

• After swimming, take the bottle to the shower and fill it with water, shake it to combine then pour it over your hair and body.

Shelf life of the preparation

• Ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate are affordable and have a shelf life of at least one year in dry form (stored in a cool, dark place). 

• However, once mixed in a solution, vitamin C degrades within a day or two. Mix just enough solution to use each day.

Chlorine remover for hair

• You can, of course, use an anti-chlorine spray after swimming in your hair, if it is designed for skin and hair. There are also swim shampoos that help repair damage and remove chlorine.

• Just showering with soap and shampoo after getting out of the pool will also go a long way to removing most of the chlorine. 

• You can also mix some vitamin C crystals with your body wash or shampoo to create your own shampoo and bath wash. Or just use your own DIY chlorine remover spray on your hair and then rinse it out.

• A great way to minimize chlorine damage to your hair is to take action before you jump into the water. Wetting your hair prevents some of the chlorine from binding with it, spraying the hair with a coat of conditioner or protectant also prevents some of the chlorine from binding, and wearing a cap completes a good prevention regimen.

 

Can you use chlorine remover for swimwear?

• The simplest chlorine remover for swimwear is simply to rinse the suit after use and wash it regularly, letting it air dry.

• If the chlorine smell persists, you can use a bathing suit dechlorinator. Simply put a drop in a bucket or gallon of water, rinse the suit, then hang it to dry. You can also soak the combination in a bucket of water with just a teaspoon of sodium ascorbate or vitamin C crystals. 

• Some people also like to try a small amount of baking soda mixed in water to wash their overalls and get rid of the chlorine smell.

Be careful and take care of your eyes!

• If you have sore and red eyes after getting out of the pool, you should wash them immediately. Wash them to remove chlorine and other chemicals from your eyelashes and eyelids.

• Close your eyes and sprinkle them with water. Continue rinsing your eyes for about 15 minutes until all chemicals have been removed. Your eyes are very delicate and when you are in the pool bacteria and algae are neutralized by the chlorine to protect you but the chlorine put in the pool also removes a thin film on your cornea. This makes your eyes more susceptible to infections. 

• The three most common pool water infections are:

Conjunctivitis

• This causes itching in the eyes and a buildup of crusty substance on the eyelids and can be caused by bacteria or viral contamination. 

• This thrives in pool water that has not been appropriately treated.

Red eyes

• Redness in the eyes occurs when the blood vessels near the surface of the eye enlarge and then dilate. 

• This is due to chlorine dehydrating your eyes and removing a film from the tear duct.

Acanthamoeban keratitis is an infection of contact lenses

• Water gets stuck between your contact lens and cornea, which also traps the parasite. This can lead to corneal ulcers and can permanently damage your vision. After reading this, you should understand that you should never wear contact lenses when you go swimming. 

• If you have done this, you will need to use eye drops immediately after your swim.