Love the skin you’re in
Skin and hair feeling the effects of a long hot summer? These tips will turn things around in no time.
Most Australians and New Zealanders are pretty sun smart. We know the mantra and you can count us to slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat without even thinking about it, thanks to effective ad campaigns over the years.
While we (rightly) focus on the major effects of too much sun, there are some less serious consequences from months of daily swims and sunshine. If the summer has taken its toll and left your skin and hair a little dry, here are some tips to restore health and vitality.
Skin health
Our skin is an amazing barrier, but it’s not immune to the effects of some pool chemicals and additives. The effects of exposure are different for everyone and can range from no reaction or a very mild dryness through to more uncomfortable conditions including redness, itching and flaking. Nails can suffer as well, becoming dry or brittle. So, what can you do to counter the effects?
Stay hydrated
Sound advice year-round, it pays to stay hydrated. Drinking water won’t directly hydrate the skin, but it’s great for your body at a cellular level, flushing the system and helping deliver nutrients where needed as it is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Shower before and after swimming
Showering before a swim minimises contaminants like skin oils going into the pool, which means you’ll need less sanitising product. A quick shower afterwards using a moisturising soap or gel limits any chemical absorption through the skin which can lead to dryness.
Cool it
Avoid hot showers – before and after – as they can open pores and speed up absorption, as well as disrupting the natural balance of oils and fats, which can inflame and dry out the skin.
Pat dry and moisturise
Pat your skin dry gently with a towel and avoid unnecessary rubbing, which can irritate. Moisturise using a cream or lotion with a natural oil base, like shea or cocoa butter, or add a skin rejuvenating oil (like Vitamin E) for extra conditioning. Pay attention to areas that need a little more help, like elbows and the heels of your feet and be sure to give a little love to nails on both your fingers and toes.
Exfoliate
While rubbing with a towel is not recommended, a regular whole-body soft exfoliation will help remove dead skin cells keep your skin looking smooth and soft. You can whip up a homemade scrub by mixing sugar and a neutral oil like olive or coconut. Apply in the shower, massage lightly and rinse off carefully. Pat dry and moisturise as normal.
Don’t dip out on diet
What’s on the inside counts too, so make sure your diet includes foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids – they regulate the skin’s oil production and can help balance hydration and sooth irritation.
Eggs are high in omega-3s, as are fatty cold-water fish like tuna and salmon, anchovies and sardines. Shellfish sources include oysters, mussels, scallops, clams and prawns. For vegetarian and vegan options try flaxseed, walnuts, chia seeds and soybeans.
Hair health
Dry and brittle hair can be a common condition after months of exposure to sunshine and swimming. For some swimmers, the results are more noticeable – like hair discolouration or a dry, red and itchy scalp. Before you reach for the scissors to chop it all off, try some of these tips to soothe any damage.
Pre-swim
A lot of hair care advice involves slathering your hair in a natural oil – coconut, olive, jojoba or avocado for example – to act as a barrier between your hair and the pool water, limiting discolouration and alleviating dryness.
While your hair may thank you, it’s not necessarily the best advice when it comes to water chemistry. The same issue applies to commercially available options, like leave-in hair conditioners. Introduction of these and other personal products – like sunscreens, deodorants and perfumes –creates a need for additional sanitising material to balance the water…and so the cycle continues.
If you really want to create a barrier between your hair and the water, use a swimming cap made from silicon or latex.
Post-swim
Rinse your hair immediately after a swim and be sure to shampoo and condition using a clarifying or pH balancing shampoo, or one designed specifically for use after swimming. This is the time to use leave-in conditioners, provided you rinse the product out before you hit the pool again.
Hair masks are a great way to inject a little extra moisture into dry hair. There are plenty of salon and supermarket alternatives, or you can mix up your own using common kitchen and bathroom ingredients – get googling!
Trim the tips
Looks can be deceiving when it comes to hair health and brittle split ends can make the whole length of the hair shaft appear worse than it actually is. Keep up a routine of regular maintenance trims throughout the year to keep your hair looking healthy.
The benefits of swimming are undisputed and a little dryness may seem like a small price to pay for months of exercise, entertainment and relaxation. But you don’t need to suffer – just follow these tips to restore and regenerate hair and skin and keep you looking your best.