Short answer: Time in a chlorinated pool or in the sea can leave skin feeling dry and tight, and the more often you swim, the more you may notice it. The sun is usually part of the same afternoon. A short routine helps: rinse off in fresh water soon after you get out, cleanse gently with lukewarm water, pat dry and moisturize your face and body. For the sun, use a Broad Spectrum sunscreen, check whether its label says it is water resistant, and reapply exactly as the label directs, including after towel drying.
Swimming is good exercise, and it also means time in water, disinfectant or salt, and sun.
What pool water does
Pools are disinfected, most often with chlorine, to keep the water safe to swim in. That same disinfected water can be drying to the skin. Many swimmers notice their skin feels tight or rough after a session, and the effect can add up if you swim often.
Sitting afterward with pool water drying on your skin prolongs the contact. What Is the Skin Barrier? explains why the outer layer of the skin matters for comfort.
A rash, persistent itching, or skin that reacts every time you swim is worth showing to a dermatologist rather than guessing at the cause.
What salt water does
Sea water leaves salt behind on the skin as it dries, and many people find their skin feels tight and dry after a day at the beach. Sand adds friction where it rubs, and wind on the shore can dry skin faster. Rinse off before you head home.
Rinse, cleanse, moisturize
Rinse soon after you get out. A fresh-water shower takes pool water or salt off your skin.
Cleanse gently. Use lukewarm water rather than hot, light pressure and a gentle cleanser to remove what a rinse leaves behind, including sunscreen. For the face, Victoria prefers a professional facial sponge used gently with an appropriate cleanser; clean fingertips are acceptable too. Are Hot Showers Bad for Your Skin? looks at water temperature.
Pat dry. Press your towel against your skin rather than rubbing.
Moisturize face and body. Apply moisturizer after cleansing or bathing and any appropriate preceding steps, following the product’s directions, with clean fingertips. Does Your Body Need a Skincare Routine Too? covers the body side.
Leave the scrub alone. Skin that feels tight or looks irritated after swimming is not a reason to exfoliate. Do not exfoliate skin that is sunburned, irritated or sore.
Sun at the pool and the beach
Being in the water does not take you out of the sun. Your face, shoulders and back are often above the surface for long stretches, and outdoor swimming often happens in the middle of the day, when UV runs high.
Around pools, at the beach or on open water, UV exposure can come from both direct sunlight and reflected radiation. Water, sand and some surrounding surfaces can reflect UV, adding to overall exposure. This matters whether you are swimming, relaxing beside a home or community pool, spending the day at the beach or boating for extended periods with limited shade. Shade, protective clothing, hats and sunglasses can complement broad-spectrum sunscreen used according to its label directions.
What “water resistant” means on a sunscreen label
In the United States, sunscreen is an over-the-counter drug, and its label wording is controlled. Not every sunscreen is water resistant, so read the label.
Water resistant (40 minutes) or (80 minutes). These are the water resistance claims a US sunscreen label may make. The number tells you how many minutes of water exposure the product was tested for.
Reapply as the label directs. A water resistant sunscreen’s label tells you to reapply after 40 or 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, as tested, immediately after towel drying, and at least every 2 hours. A sunscreen that is not water resistant says to reapply at least every 2 hours and to use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating.
SPF is not a timer. The SPF number does not tell you how many minutes you can stay in the sun. Applying more at once does not replace reapplying, and applying too little can reduce protection.
Apply before you go out. US labels direct you to apply liberally or generously 15 minutes before sun exposure. How Much Sunscreen to Use, and When to Reapply goes into amounts.
A Broad Spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, used as directed with other sun protection measures, decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun. Do You Need Sunscreen Every Day? explains the label terms.
Victoria’s approach
Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Victoria applies daily broad-spectrum sunscreen to the backs of her hands as her own preventive habit, and hands are easy to forget at the pool.
For moisturizing after a swim, the Shea Butter Ultra Rich Hydra Crème and the Cellaris Body Crème are two examples from the Esenté range. Follow the directions for whichever you use. Both come in jars, so take the crème out with a clean cosmetic spatula. Other formulations may suit you, depending on your skin, your preferences and your budget. Esenté works with boutique manufacturers to develop and select formulations that meet the brand’s ingredient, performance and quality criteria. If swimming leaves your skin uncomfortable and you want advice on your own routine, the Ask Victoria page is the place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Chlorinated pool water can be drying, and many swimmers notice tight or rough skin afterward, especially if they swim often. Rinsing off soon after, cleansing gently and moisturizing help many people keep skin comfortable.
Rinse off in fresh water, cleanse gently with lukewarm water, pat dry, then apply moisturizer to face and body following the product’s directions. If you swam outdoors, check your skin for signs of too much sun.
Yes, if you can. Sea water leaves salt on the skin as it dries, and many people find their skin feels tight afterward. A fresh-water rinse and a gentle cleanse take it off.
Follow the label. Water resistant sunscreens say to reapply after 40 or 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, as tested, immediately after towel drying, and at least every 2 hours. If the label does not say water resistant, it directs you to use a water resistant sunscreen when swimming.
Skin that feels tight or looks irritated after a swim is not a reason to exfoliate, and skin that is sunburned, irritated or sore should not be exfoliated at all. Rinse, cleanse gently and moisturize instead.
About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.
Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.
