Ask the Experts

kin cells consist of 70% water, so you would think water is imperative to skin health and optimal functioning. While S this is true from an internal perspective, the question to pose is whether sea water and swimming pool water benefits or damages the skin? Sea water has many health benefits due to its high salt content. Salt is a natural antiseptic and anti-bacterial substance, which is beneficial for acne-ridden skin. Sea water also contains high levels of minerals (calcium, magnesium, etc.), which are especially important in the treatment of skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Historically, bathing in mineral rich water was called ‘balneotherapy’ and showed results in the treatment of autoimmune (where the immune system attacks its own healthy cells) skin conditions.

Another type of therapy – climatotherapy – is where you expose yourself to cold water often, which stimulates blood circulation and the skin’s immune system. It is therefore highly beneficial to expose your body to cold sea water often, but ensure that you do not forget your SPF, as sun rays penetrate through water and can be detrimental to skin health. Regarding exposure to swimming pool water – you may have seen the effect swimming has on blonde hair, where it is left with a green tinge. Now imagine what it does to the skin, keeping in mind that we cannot always visibly see the effects on the skin immediately, like we do on hair. The high levels of chlorine necessary to keep pools clean can be extremely irritating, harmful and damaging to the skin. Chlorine breaks down into two compounds when exposed to water. These are Hypochlorous acid and chloramines, which are needed to disinfect the pool. The effect on your skin is quite different to that of sea water exposure, as it may lead to excessively dry and irritated skin, not to mention the burns and rashes that can develop. This is due to pores becoming slightly more enlarged, which leads to a loss of essential skin protective oils. The Hypochlorous acid can also aggravate preexisting skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis because of the increased inflammation that it triggers in the skin. If your skin is already predisposed to any of the above conditions and you still want to swim, you can reduce the effect on the skin by immediately applying vitamin C after showering off the chlorine water and moisturising with a product that will reinforce the skin’s barrier.

Diana van Sittert is the operational manager at SkinPhD. After finishing her Diploma in Somatology and practicing as a therapist, she ventured into sales and education for various national and international brands. She has educated and advised over 29,000 end consumers, distributors, franchisees and therapists in over 20 countries. diana@Skinphd.co.za