Swimming with Eczema: What You Should Know Before Taking the Plunge
Eczema is a skin condition that causes inflammation and can lead to irritation and itching, along with leaving reddish, swelled spots in the areas it affects.
It is mostly found among younger children but can affect teenagers and adults as well.
While swimming is a great exercise for the body and mind, it can lead to eczema flareups.
There have been studies that have found a link between increased eczema symptoms and swimming.
Moreover, the studies suggest that the eczema flareup owes a lot to calcium buildup inside the pools.
Some also believe that chlorine can trigger an eczema flare-up as well.
So, should a person with eczema go for a swim? Here’s everything to know:
Effect of Swimming on the Skin
One common effect of swimming in the dryness of the skin.
This is due to the pH imbalance between the skin and the swimming pool water.
The human skin is slightly acidic, with its pH ranging from 4.1 to 5.8. The skin is designed to work at this pH level and any imbalances can cause problems.
On the other hand, a swimming pool’s pH level ranges between 7.2 and 7.8, which places more on the alkaline side of the scale.
Regular exposure to alkaline water will lead to skin becoming drier.
Drier skin is more sensitive and is more susceptible to developing eczema, which makes swimming a likely cause for the skin condition.
However, a treated swimming pool contains several other chemicals. How do they affect eczema?
Effect of Chemicals on Eczema
Swimming pools contain different chemicals to treat the water and make it fit for prolonged use.
Chlorine is one of these chemicals and is added to the water to kill bacteria and make it safe to swim in.
Chlorine can dry out your skin, which makes it likely to exacerbate eczema.
However, chlorine also kills bacteria on the skin. Diluted chlorine in swimming pools can help do that.
This makes the chlorine in swimming pools helpful for you as well as the removal of bacteria from the skin can reduce the risk of eczema.
Some studies have shown chlorine to improve the effects of eczema.
Calcium chloride is another chemical that is typically used in swimming pool treatment.
The salt is added to make the water “harder” and give it more consistency.
It also protects the swimming pool from corrosion.
Calcium can cause eczema flare-ups.
It can cause damage to the skin barrier, resulting in irritation and increased dryness.
Calcium chloride is believed by many to be the primary cause of eczema flareups from swimming pools.
How to Swim with Eczema
Swimming with eczema means you have to take necessary precautions and protect yourself against abrasive water.
One way of doing this is by applying barrier creams that offer your skin protection.
If you’re swimming outdoors, it’s better to wear a proper swimming suit with UV protection. The sunlight can cause eczema flare-ups.
For active eczema, protecting affected areas with guards and covers is essential.
