At the start of the school year, the sunglasses are stored and the targeted serums are released. Retinol, fruit acids, resurfing treatments: so many highly popular beauty allies in the fall, an ideal period to erase the brands left in summer. But this recovery is often accompanied by a regular activity which puts the skin to the test. However, some of these assets do not support this particular daily life, and the epidermis comes out of it.
Why swimming weakens the skin at the start of the school year
Because yes, it is swimming that comes to play the spoilsports. September sports activity, it seduces with its efficiency and accessibility. But swimming pool water is not neutral: it is disinfected with chlorine. The latter acts as a powerful oxidant, capable of destroying the hydrolipidic film which naturally protects the epidermis. As a result, the skin loses its lipids, dries faster and becomes permeable to external aggressions.
Dermatologists explain that chlorine, combined with the heat and humidity of the covered basins, promotes the evaporation of skin water. This phenomenon, called insensitive loss of water, leads to xerosis, itching and tightness. It is a frequent reaction in regular swimmers, all the more marked at the start of the school year, when training resumes several times a week.
What happens when you combine chlorine and powerful active
On an already weakened skin, certain care become real catalysts of irritation. Retinol, for example, accelerates cell renewal. Excellent news for fine lines or dull complexion, but much less when a skin barrier is already attacked: the epidermis becomes red, sensitive, uncomfortable.
AHAs, like glycolic or lactic acid, exfoliate the corneal layer. They refine the surface of the skin, leaving the irritating agents present in chlorinated water more easily. For their part, the BHAs, such as salicylic acid, dry more dehydrated areas, accentuating tags and inflammation.
This cocktail leads to a chain reaction: the active ingredients sensitize the skin, the chlorine weakens it, and the whole leads to persistent redness, micro-lensions, sometimes even a temporary intolerance to your favorite care. It is the most common error of swimming enthusiasts who, in parallel, want to boost their anti-aging routine in the fall.
How to use retinol, aha and bha despite all when you swim regularly
Good news: it is not necessary to completely banish these assets. The key is the organization. On training days, it is better to avoid any application of retinol, fruit acids or powerful exfoliating. The day before or the next day, on the other hand, their use remains possible, provided they respect the skin recovery time.
Before each session, apply a barrier cream rich in lipids (ceramids, shea butter, vegetable oils) limits the penetration of chlorine and protects the hydrolipidic film. After swimming, meticulous rinsing with clear water, followed by a soft sulfate -free cleaner, eliminates residues. Finally, a moisturizer rich in humectors such as glycerin, urea or hyaluronic acid helps restore the balance of the skin.
For those who swim several times a week, it may be wise to alternate these powerful assets with softer alternatives, such as bakuchiol, niacinamide or peptides. These molecules offer visible benefits while reducing the risk of irritation.
By adjusting the frequency and combination of your care, it is therefore possible to reconcile regular swimming and cosmetic efficiency. The important thing is to give the skin time to regenerate, so that the pleasure of the basin does not lead to lasting discomfort.
FAQ – Beauty and swimming pool care
1. What treatments to apply before going swimming?
Favor a barrier cream rich in ceramids or plant butters. It limits the penetration of chlorine and protects the skin barrier.
2. Can I put retinol on the same day as a swimming session?
Better to avoid: the skin weakened by chlorine reacts stronger with retinol. Book this treatment for days without swimming.
3. What gentle active ingredients replace retinol and acids when you swim often?
Bakuchiol, niacinamide or peptides are good alternatives: they offer visible benefits without attacking the fragile skin.
4. Why is my skin scratching or pulls after the swimming pool?
The chlorine destroys the hydrolipidic film and dries up the epidermis. This imbalance causes tightness, itching and dry areas, especially in regular swimmers.
5. What immediate gestures after swimming to limit irritation?
Rinse abundantly with clear water, use a soft neutral pH cleaner, then apply a moisturizer or religious to restore the skin.
