Skin and haircare tip: Taking your kids for swimming? Don't forget these tips

Chlorine can damage your child's skin and hair too.

Summers are the time you hit the pool with your little ones. As much as kids enjoy swimming and playing in the water, the chemicals and chlorine in it can cause harmful effects on their skin and hair. Here are some health benefits of swimming. Chlorine, bromine, salt and other chemicals in swimming pool water can be very harsh to the skin and hair cuticle. Exposure to pool water for a long time will make the skin and hair dry due to depletion of its natural oils. Chlorine can also trigger allergic rashes or even severe itching. Kids are more sensitive to these chemicals and hence need extra care. Dr Navin Taneja, Director National Skin Cente, Delhi shares with us tips for pre and post swimming care for children:

Before or pre-swimming care for skin and hair for children

• Buy polyester suits instead of nylon or spandex as they offer more protection from chlorine and are more durable.
• Take a quick shower rinse with fresh water and apply emollients, moisturizing lotions or sunscreen lotions. Here are skincare products that are safe for children.
• Rinsing hair before entering the pool prevents chlorine from settling on the hair. Using a conditioner before entering the pool is also a great way to protect hair. Baby oil or coconut oil act as natural conditioners and protect hair from chlorine and chemical damage. You can also follow these expert haircare tips for children.
• Sunscreens for children, in particular, one should use physical sun blocks only like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide creams or lotion, safe and effective for protecting the skin from sun damage and also protects from harsh chemicals of swimming pool water, in open outdoor pools but if you are in an indoor pool. Pre-swimming moisturizing lotion or emollients helps to protect sensitive skin against pool water chemical.

After or post swimming care for children

• Plain water showers are not adequate to get rid of the chlorine which bonds with the skin and hair. The odour of chlorine remains in the hair and body even after a day of swimming. Vitamin C is an effective neutralizer of chlorine s bond to hair and skin. It is easily available at most pharmacies and even online. You can mix this powder in water and rinse your little one s hair and body with it to get rid of the chlorine.
• Water tends to remove the natural oils from children s skin leaving it dry and itchy. Use natural moisturisers like coconut or baby oil or moisturisers containing shea butter or jojoba oil. Apply them generously all over the body.
• Shampoo with a neutral pH is ideal as it removes chlorine form the hair effectively.
• Ensure that children drink a lot of fluids or water to stay hydrated.

Adults can follow these tips to protect hair and skin before and after swimming.

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