Swimming question

[laracroft2001]

Hi. My 15 week ds adores swimming and we take him once a week. The problem I'm having is that after swimming his skin is terrible... :( looks very eczema'y and sore. He doesnt seem in discomfort but he will scratch absentmindedly and damage his skin.

Its obviously the chlorine in the pool as its only where the skin is in direct contact with the water (ie not on his belly which is covered by wetsuit.)

Does anyone have any creams/products they can recommend to prevent this? I have aveeno/oilutum/diprobase etc for after, but need something to prevent as don't want to stop an activity he loves

Thanks :)

I would stop the activity rather than damage his skin. Irritation that gets scratched can lead to infections etc. and broken skin can become sensitive to other triggers. I've had similar problems my whole life and no amount of barrier creams helps IME. Some pools use less harsh chemicals than others. If you can find one, use that, otherwise wait until he's a bit older and his skin is less delicate.

You could try a chlorine free pool. This blog seems to list a few.
Alternatively you could try Dermaguard which I've found to be excellent for my dreadfully cracked hands when used as a preventer.
If those don't work then it's probably seaside swimming only til your LO hopefully grows out of it. As cognition says it's just not worth it.

Sorry, cognito! Darned iPad auto correct!

great thanks both. will def try that dermaguard (for me as well as the LO as i get very dry skin as well)

its only just occured to me that the only place he gets it is on his head and forehead - which are never in the water?!?!
his arms, hands and legs which are all in the water are fine.
Its not cradle cap as he has had that before and still gets a little bit, but it seems maybe the pool isnt the trigger!?

Hold off swimming for a few weeks and see if it goes away by itself. If it does, problem solved. If it doesn't, look around for what else could be the problem. Head and forehead = an irritating hat?

It's probably worth taking him to gp. If it's just scalp and forehead it's less likely to be eczema. Could it be shampoo reaction? Do you wash his hair after swimming?

I think cogito's advice is good. Try a break and see what happens.
Hope he's better soon.

What about using a drysuit in the pool, so apart from hands/feet/head rest of him is untouched by the chlorine?

My 2.5 year old has excema (how do you even spell it?) but conversely the chlorine seems to lessen it! Makes you wonder what's actually in Johnsons baby bath and shampoo products if they make his excema angry yet a harsh chemical such as chlorine doesn't

List of pools here with no chlorine
piscinasana.wikidot.com/forum/t-121156#post-359866

Are you sure it's not cradle cap?

I am big on swimming skills but strongly think it's not important at this age. Stick to the bath.

Came on to say look for a pool that uses ozone instead of chlorine. Usually new, swanky pools or pools in gyms.