Swimming is one of the best therapeutic physical activities with a myriad of health benefits. But if you’re swimming daily, the salt, the chlorine water, the sun, the microbes and the pollution can have adverse effects on the skin. However, if you are informed, careful and taking precautions, you can enjoy the water without damaging your skin. Today we bring you a detailed organic skin care guide for swimmers, surfers, paddle boarders and all types of water sports to maintain flawless skin:
Why Skin Care is Indispensable for Swimmers?
Before we discuss pre and post organic skin care guide for swimmers, let’s discuss the potential agents that can cause skin damage.
Effects of Chlorine
In order to disinfect and kill germs, chlorine is added to swimming pools. When this chlorine comes in contact with organic materials like skin cells, sweat and sebum, it forms chloramine. Chloramine damages and irritates the skin (cause irritant dermatitis), triggers skin conditions such as eczema and also speeds up the process of drying and premature aging of skin.
Chlorine also strips away protective natural oils from the skin. Chlorine, along with the effects of the sun, can also cause a pretty bad sunburn.
Effects of UV rays
When you’re out at the pool or at the beach, your skin is exposed to the sun’s UV rays. The sun rays that reach the Earth, contains 95% of UVA rays and 5% of UVB rays. The UVB rays damage the outer layers of the skin and cause sunburn, peeling skin and hyperpigmentation. The UVAs, on the other hand, penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and are responsible for photoaging the skin. Over time, continuous unprotected exposure to UVA rays can even cause skin cancer.
Effects of Microorganisms
Various types of bacteria, viruses and parasites reside in pools and fresh and marine water bodies. Dry, inflamed, broken skin can become a breeding ground for these microbes, which can quickly turn into an infection and cause acne, blemishes, itching and other types of skin inflammation.
Effects of Salt
While salt is usually considered good for the skin, if you already have dry or sensitive skin or are overexposing your skin to salty water, this can negate the benefits of salt water. Sun and salt can be taxing on your skin and the amount of damage will depend on the type of water body.
Pre Swim Tips
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1. Cleansing
Most swimming pools makes it a mandate to get a shower before you take a dip in the pool. Wetting your skin with non-chlorinated water prior to swimming lessens the chances of chlorine absorption on your skin. As the first protective measure for your face, make sure you wash your it with an Organic Cleanser made with 100% wildcrafted and natural ingredients formulated according to your dosha type.
2. Moisturizing
After cleansing, moisturizing with Organic Body Butter, further saturates the skin with moisture and minimizes the harmful effects of chlorine.
For your face, you can use any of our Organic Face Serums as a base material to prepare you your skin to neutralize the effects of chemicals and microbes.
3. Sunscreen..The Most Important Step
The best way to protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays is the correct application of sunscreen when exposed to the sun.
Use a Water-Resistant, Broad Spectrum, Mineral-based Sunscreen to stay protected from both UVA,UVB and UVC rays. An SPF 30 Sunscreen blocks 97-98% of UV rays. Reapply your favorite organic sunscreen every 2 hours or whenever you feel it is washed off to ensure maximum protection.
Unlike other sunscreens which needs about 15-30 minutes of absorption/activation time, our SunProtect SPF 30+ works immediately upon application and is child safe as well. From how to choose the most effective sunscreen, to the right method of application, here’s ‘Your Guide to Enjoy the Sun Safely.’
Post Swim Tips
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1. Warm Water Shower
Before the chlorinated water dries out on your skin, take a warm water shower with a mild organic cleanser and thoroughly wash your face, body and hair.
2. Neutralize pH
Organic Toners or Hydrators contain chemical-neutralizing ingredients (in the form of antioxidants) that destroy skin damaging molecules. Spritzing a few sprays of a toner of choice brings pH into balance, wards off impurities from entering the pores, hydrates and evens skin tone.
3. Moisturize with Vitamin C and Antioxidants
Though a warm water shower is essential post-swimming, it can also dry your skin. The next vital step after cleansing and toning your skin is the application of a deeply nourishing moisturizer to retain moisture in the skin.
Our Vanilla Silk Body Butter with herbal infusions of Neem, Bilberry, Chickweed, Calendula, Skullcap and Rosemary soothes post swimming skin. Blended in a base of Aloe Vera, Shea Butter and healing organic Plant Oils, it protects the skin with long-lasting moisture, leaving your skin feeling renewed and refreshed.
For the face, our BioScience Peptide Complex Topical Botox Serum with Vitamins, Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid, Antioxidants, DevaBright Formula and Essential Oil with a steam distilled Herbal Infusion Blend of 50+ Active Botanicals is clinically proven to slow and even reverse some of the obvious signs of skin aging, by stimulating the collagen net strengthen and grow, and to perform like it did in our youth, renewing skin plumpness and spring and minimizing sagging and fine lines. A wonderful side benefit is the BioScience “glow”.. a result of intense free radical scavenging. Follow up with our award winning Collagen Boost Serum for even faster and amplified results.
4. Exfoliate
Use our Gentle Organic Exfoliating Mask & Scrub to remove chemical-build up, pollutants, dirt and dead skin cells 2-3X times a week. Regular exfoliation produces smooth soft skin and also prepares dermal cells for more effective uptake of followup intensive skin treatments.
5. Stay Hydrated
Excessive sun and sweat can lower the water content in the body, causing dehydration, making the natural repair mechanisms slow, particularly the skin, which is more likely to be directly damaged by the effects of sun and chlorine. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and reduce intake of caffeine and alcohol.
6. Give Extra Care to Sensitive Areas
If you’ve sensitive skin and having skin problems like Eczema, Rosacea or Psoriasis, it’s essential to follow a Pitta Dosha Skincare Regimen. To avoid flares and treat the problem at the source, follow an intensive moisturizing treatment with our SBR Serum before bed.
