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Chlorine sensitivity after swimming

11 replies

astarsheis · 16/02/2023 22:06

I've recently taking up swimming again as I want to do a triathlon. However, after the sessions I get really bad sneezing and my nose is streaming so badly that it wakes me up at night.
Last night I actually stuck some Vaseline up my nose to try and reduce it.
I am wearing goggles but would prefer not to wear a nose clip.
Any advice from swimmers out there please?

OP posts:
lljkk · 21/02/2023 22:13

I used to get itchy skin but not sneezing. Sorry, not much help. Reddit?

Tatapie · 21/02/2023 22:40

Hi no real help OP sorry just following as my DH has started with breathing difficulties after swimming. It's not asthma, it's a reaction to the gases ( chemicals & bacteria ) He's gutted!
Have you tried an antihistamine?

FrangipaniBlue · 21/02/2023 23:09

I take an antihistamine about half an hour or so before I swim and it helps stop the sneezing and itchy eyes.

AppleBlossomTimeNow · 21/02/2023 23:22

I have this - antihistamine helps a bit but if I swim around the time the pool is clean chlorinated, my nose streams & I can't stop sneezing.

astarsheis · 23/02/2023 17:16

Thank you all.
I will get some anti-histamines and also maybe do some saline nose washing after swimming.
I'm really enjoying the swimming and do not want to give it up now.

OP posts:
OhNoNotThatAgain · 23/02/2023 17:19

Contact other local swimming pools and find out whether any of them use bromine or ozone to sanitise the water instead. They don't all use chlorine.

astarsheis · 24/02/2023 19:20

OhNoNotThatAgain · 23/02/2023 17:19

Contact other local swimming pools and find out whether any of them use bromine or ozone to sanitise the water instead. They don't all use chlorine.

I'm a member at a private club but have only recently taking up swimming again. I will discuss the level of chlorine with them.

OP posts:
OhNoNotThatAgain · 24/02/2023 23:27

Ask them to check that the pH levels are correct, as that is often where they can go a bit wrong. They might not be looking at that often enough. Every time you dose a pool with chlorine it alters the pH, so you have to adjust that as well.

ErrolTheDragon · 26/02/2023 21:41

OhNoNotThatAgain · 23/02/2023 17:19

Contact other local swimming pools and find out whether any of them use bromine or ozone to sanitise the water instead. They don't all use chlorine.

That's interesting... I went swimming for the first time in ages recently, one of my eyes seems to have become very sensitive as it was irritated for days after - this happened at a local pool I'd been to in the past and one in a hotel which did smell quite strongly of chlorine. (I was wearing goggles but can never find any that 100% work.) .
I think the local council pool switched to ozone a few years ago so maybe I'll give that a try.

OhNoNotThatAgain · 27/02/2023 15:28

ErrolTheDragon · 26/02/2023 21:41

That's interesting... I went swimming for the first time in ages recently, one of my eyes seems to have become very sensitive as it was irritated for days after - this happened at a local pool I'd been to in the past and one in a hotel which did smell quite strongly of chlorine. (I was wearing goggles but can never find any that 100% work.) .
I think the local council pool switched to ozone a few years ago so maybe I'll give that a try.

Sore eyes is more likely to be incorrect pH levels. Too acidic or alkaline and it irritates the eyes. I used to work for a firm that did swimming pool stuff, but it was a while ago now, so I can't remember the ideal pH, but that was often the culprit.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/02/2023 15:31

I suppose it could be - seems a bit odd it was two different pools and it's never happened before.

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