Can You Go Swimming with Eczema?

… Continued…

1. Make sure to use a barrier for your skin by applying your emollient before going into the pool for swimming.
2. And don’t forget to take a shower after leaving the pool. Clean your body with fresh water (lukewarm is so recommended) to rinse the disinfectants from your body!
3. After bathing, use a soft towel and pat it gently to help safely dry your skin. And then use again your preferred emollient! Before dressing, give a few minutes to allow the emollient sink into the skin!
4. If your eczema flares up, it’s recommended to not go swimming since there is chance for the flare-up gets worse.
5. For more guidance and advice, talk with your doctor!

It’s also worth to find the information about when the disinfectant is added and used to treat the water. The disinfectants (including chlorine) can evaporate – therefore as time passes, the water of the pool will gradually change to become weaker in concentration.

Another thing you need to know is about how often the pool treated with disinfectants – and make sure it is still within in the safe limits! Over-use of chemicals in treating the water of the pool can increase the chance of irritating the skin.

You can contact a local council /leisure center to find the information about types of pools that are available in your local area.

In general, pools are under no obligation to show and give specific information about the treatment methods for swimmers, but they should understand if you explain why you are asking. Most of them usually will be happy to give the information.

In addition, generally irritation of the skin after swimming is more likely to occur if you have some of the following conditions:

1. Prolonged exposure of the skin to the disinfectant water. If you are an individual who are unused for swimming, it is relatively easier for your skin to over-react the chemicals contained on the pool water. To keep safe, gradually increase the length of time for swimming!
2. While the disinfectants such as chlorine can be a potential irritant, not all germs can be killed by the disinfectants and these germs also can be potential to cause infection (though this is a rare possibility).

If you experience a skin irritation after swimming, see a doctor or dermatologist for appropriate treatment and more advice!