Swimming is a great form of exercise year-round, especially during the cold and/or wet weather season when venturing outdoors becomes a less attractive option. Also, swimming in a pool or relaxing in a hot tub are excellent ways to relieve stress, however, did you know that the chemical additives used to treat the waters can potentially cause serious skin allergies and asthma? It’s not uncommon for people to develop a rash after using pool facilities. A chemical treatment called potassium peroxymonosulfate that’s used to clean the water and eliminate organic debris has been identified as a cause of allergic skin reactions. Furthermore, not only does chlorine have an antibacterial effect, but it also reacts with substances excreted from people’s bodies or mixes with personal care products (e.g., lotion, deodorant and hair gel) to create chlorine byproducts. The resulting chemical reactions can cause or worsen asthma. So, make certain to rinse off before and immediately after your swim. Due to the drying and irritating effects of chlorine and other chemicals, it’s also a good idea to use a moisturizer right after cleansing.
