Swimming pool killing my skin

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Help! Have got massively into swimming in the last few weeks. It's the first exercise I've found I really enjoy and have managed to keep up 4-5 times a week. I've lost half a stone and feel fantastic...except my skin even though I shower straight after with shower gel and wash my hair I still smell like chlorine for hours afterwards, my skin feels tight and I'm getting some spots.

Usually at night I take off the day with micellar water and use either nothing, or a light moisturiser (hate the feeling of anything on my face and heavy moisturisers have made me break out in the past, but I will force myself if necessary). In the day I just wear Biore SPF50. I'm also drinking 2L of water a day.

Any suggestions? Is there anything that I can put on before swimming, or after to neutralise the chlorine? Or do I just need to slather my face in something at night and accept the risk of getting (more) spots?

I found this with swimming, skin and hair, and didn’t find a solution, so switched to running!

Think the issue is being soaked in the chemicals for a long time, nothing can really ‘neutralise” it. The health benefits of the exercise are great though!

I know friends that are keen swimmers apply Vaseline ( out of the big pot with blue lid) over the areas of face that touch the water. Could try that OP?

Choc literally just normal Vaseline jelly all over the face? How do you get it off again? Does face wash take off Vaseline? I guess it must...

Dozer oh no - I really like swimming! When I run I feel like a beached whale with my boobs and stomach jiggling about, whereas I can knock out 2km in 50 mins in the pool and feel amazing. I worry about pickling myself in chlorine though!!

I find swimming helps dry out spots. None of the pools near me are open yet :(

Are you cleansing and moisturising with your normal products after swimming? Ie not just using shower gel.

I sometimes use this after swimming, just for fifteen mins or so
www.boots.com/origins-drink-up-intensive-overnight-hydrating-mask-with-avocado-and-swiss-glacier-water-10259768

I'm using a normal Clarins shower gel on my body, and on hair a moisturising shampoo and conditioner. I still smell the chlorine on me after I've dried and dressed though. I don't like the sticky feeling of applying body lotion or looking greasy but I guess I'll have to bite the bullet.

I used to spend hours in the pool as a kid, I don't remember any ill effects but I guess that was 30 years ago...

Try using something like L'Occitane almond shower oil - it might help with your skin. I love swimming too and don't resent the fact that in England pools are open again at all, honest and find that it's the best for keeping my skin in decent nick.

Aqueous cream?

I've been using good old fashioned Nivea at night. It hasn't made me break out. But you need some frequent swimmers answers.

Ok so sounds like I need to bite the bullet and start moisturising with heavier creams. Do I put oil on before swimming, or after?

Yeah good shout to ask frequent swimmers - I should cross post over to Exercise.

It might be worth posting this in Exercise in case you find more swimmers hanging out there than in here.

Oops! Cross posted

I swim a lot and use bar soap which feels better on the skin than shower gel. Dove soaps also have moisturiser in them.
I use a tea tree wash on my face and yes, have a slightly heavy moisturiser (Neals Yard).

Hair oil after to rehydrate? I love swimming but worry about my hair and haven't found a swim hat that doesn't leak!

Philip Kingsley Swimcap is brilliant for protecting your hair. Just comb it in beforehand.

Vit C hells your skin to neutralise the chlorine: aquamobileswim.com/how-to-protect-skin-hair-and-swim-gear-from-pool-chemicals/

I am a fan of oil sprays for quick moisturising at swimming -applied when still a little wet it is so much quick it only adds a minute. The Fenjal one smells amazing.

I'd moisturise after rather than before, else the pool water will wash most of it off anyway, and you want to retain moisture after.

Our pool isn't currently allowing post-swim showers, so I just do my normal shower at home, and moisturise then.

Also, back in my lifeguards days, one of the jobs on the quieter days was to scrub the faint scumline that appeared round the edge of the pool over time... Decklevel pools are much nicer in this regard.

I'd also do Vaseline. Just a thin coating.

The Boots own one in the baby section is a lot slippier and easier to blend than actual Vaseline.

You can just wear it home and clean it off with micellar water when you get back. It's not as thick as you imagine. It's the only thing that's a proper barrier.

My mum wore it as a night cream for the last 20 years of her life and her skin was absolutely a dream. She alternated between the Boots one and the Burt's Bees baby one. But she had dry skin. I don't do it yet because my skin hasn't gotten that dry but it's always at the back of my mind as an option for later on in life!

And also 2nd the L'occitane shower oil. Absolutely lush and moisturising and will definitely mask any smell. You can buy refills too.

Ok I have purchased:

• PK Swim cap mask for my hair
• Vit C gel moisturiser for my face
• A 3-in-1 product from superdrug which claims to remove the chlorine and was only £1.48 so it doesn't much matter if it doesn't work
• and I have a tub of vaseline somewhere so I'll give that a go too!! I guess I get into my costume/cap/goggles, put on vaseline, and then have a shower before setting foot in the pool?

wizzbang google "arteesol silicone swimming cap" on amazon - best cap I've found, it genuinely keeps almost all my hair dry (except round the nape of my neck where I can't tuck it under the cap). Bit weird having your ears covered at first but you quickly get used to it.

I will ask for L'Occitaine oil for my birthday as well! An easy birthday request from MIL who likes going into the shop.

We have a pool near us that is filtered in a way that uses less chlorine. Can you try other pools too?