Is Chlorine For Acne A Legitimate Cure Or Make It Worse?
Several people with sensitive skin have asked me if they should avoid pools with chlorine and whether chlorine for acne has negative effects. People with sensitive skin often think that chlorine and other chemicals will irritate their skin or cause acne. In fact, if you have oily skin, swimming in a chlorinated pool can help you get fewer breakouts.
I had acne for more than 10 years, and during the summer, my skin was always the clearest. When I look back, I think it’s likely that swimming often helped clear up my skin.
If you have acne all the time because you have oily skin or bacterial infections, swimming in a chlorinated pool may help clear up your skin in the short term. But being in the pool for a long time, the effects of chlorine for acne will be the drying of the skin and will make acne worse in the long run.
What is chlorine?
Chlorine is a gaseous element that is most often used as a chemical to clean things. Since it kills microorganisms and bacteria, it is often used to clean water in pools.
Paper and other things can also be bleached with it. Chlorine is a poisonous chemical that can make you sick if you eat it. However, it is safe to swim in chlorinated water.
What Are Chlorine For Acne Effects?
Chlorine for acne has antiseptic and drying effects. Basically, chlorine kills bacteria and dries out your skin. So, if your acne is caused by too much oil or bacteria, chlorine can temporarily reduce it. But if you stay in chlorinated water for a long time, your skin will dry out and become itchy or irritated in other ways. If you swim in a chlorinated pool, you should take a shower and put lotion on your face right away to keep your skin from drying out.
The most sensitive part of your body is your skin. If your skin is often exposed to chemicals like chlorine, you need to take care of it properly to keep it healthy and hydrated.
What does research say about chlorinated water and acne?
Is chlorine good for acne? Research shows that yes. According to one study, people who swam in pools with high levels of chlorine had fewer breakouts than those who swam in pools with low levels of chlorine. So the conclusion from this study is clear: chlorine for acne is beneficial.
This could be because bacteria on your skin that causes pimples can be killed when you swim in chlorinated water. But it’s important to remember that swimming isn’t a permanent cure for acne, even though it can help reduce breakouts.
To keep pimples away for a long time, you’ll need a routine that includes regular cleansing and moisturizing, and if your breakouts are bad, maybe even prescription medication. Is chlorine good for acne? It seems that way, but there are other ways to get clearer skin besides swimming in pools.
What do studies say about the link between chlorine for acne? According to one study, swimming in chlorinated water can make you break out less. Researchers looked at data from more than 1,200 swimmers and found that those who swam in pools with higher levels of chlorine had fewer acne breakouts overall than those who swam in pools with lower levels of chlorine.
People who swam four times a week for six months saw a 40% reduction in the number of spots on their skin.The researchers think that disinfectants like chlorine are likely to kill harmful bacteria on your skin.
Does chlorine help clear up acne?
Yes. Chlorine for acne exhibit positive results, but only for a short time. But it’s not a replacement for a diet low in inflammatory foods if you want to avoid acne in the first place.
Since chlorine for acne acts as disinfectant (it kills bacteria and viruses), it can help temporarily with clogged pores that are infected or blocked by bacteria.
Also, most people go swimming in the summer, and the sun can help get rid of pimples.
Most importantly, using chlorine for acne kills both the good and bad bacteria on your skin. So, you shouldn’t be around chlorine for a long time.
You can swim in a chlorinated pool for a short time if you want to get some short-term benefits from chlorine for acne. You should also take a shower and put on moisturizer right away. This keeps you safe from chlorine’s bad effects, such as:
- Rashes
- Rashes
- Irritation
- Premature aging
- Red, inflamed skin, blisters, and burns.
So, a little bit of time in chlorinated water can help reduce the size of your acne, but only in the short term. So, it’s not thought of as a permanent cure or replacement treatment for acne.
But don’t forget to wash and moisturize your skin with an oil-free moisturizer after being around chlorine to stop it from drying out your skin.
How to Care for Your Skin After Swimming
Most pools have chlorine in them to keep the water clean and safe for swimming. But should you swim in chlorinated pools if you have acne-prone skin?
As was already said, long-term and regular exposure to chlorine for acne can make it worse, so it’s best to stay away from it. But don’t worry! Using the right skincare routine after swimming can keep your acne from getting worse if you swim for a long time and can also help your acne in the short term.
We’ve put together a step-by-step routine for acne-prone skin care below. So, this routine is for you if you love swimming and have acne.
Use sunscreen
Before you jump into the pool, put a thin layer of sunscreen on your skin to protect it from UV rays and chlorine.
Also, it can help keep your acne from getting worse when you spend too much time in the pool without realizing it.
Take a shower
After swimming, wash your face with a cleanser and take a shower to get rid of any chlorine that is still on your body. We can’t forget that using chlorine for acne can be bad for the skin if it is exposed to it for a long time or if it doesn’t get washed off.
Moisturize your skin
The main thing chlorine does is quickly dry out the skin. So, even if you have acne, use a light moisturizer that doesn’t have oil after you get out of the pool and finish washing your face. If you have oily or sensitive skin, I really think you should use Aveeno’s oat gel facial moisturizer.
Chlorine vs. Salt Water
You are completely wrong if you think that saltwater doesn’t have chlorine in it. Saltwater does have chlorine in it, but not as much as you might think. Also, the chlorine in saltwater is enough to make the water safe to drink. What’s the difference, then?
Saltwater is better for your skin than chlorinated water because it is softer and less likely to irritate it. People like saltwater pools because the smell of chemicals isn’t as strong. Also, saltwater is good for your skin in a lot of ways. Salt is a natural way to make your skin smooth and soft. Even though a traditional “saltwater pool” is not the same as the ocean, it is much better than a traditional chlorinated pool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chlorine good for acne?
Chlorine can help acne in the short term by removing oils and making pores a little bit smaller. But it’s not a good way to get rid of acne in the long run.
Does chlorine help pimples on the back?
If you sometimes swim in chlorinated water, like in a pool, and then take a shower right away, the chlorine can help get rid of oils on your back for a short time.
Does going for a swim help acne?
There is chlorine in swimming pools. Chlorine’s antibacterial properties can make your skin clearer and help get rid of acne if you only stay in the water for a short time.
In Conclusion
Using chlorine for acne to treat it is not a legitimate long-term solution. It can help you get clearer skin and feel better in the short term, but it won’t get rid of acne. The best way to avoid acne is to eat a low-inflammatory diet that keeps you from breaking out in the first place. But going for a swim and getting direct sunlight is a great short-term way to cut down on oil production and bacterial infections.
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