We all know that dry air and indoor heat in the wintertime can cause or worsen preexisting skin issues. Combine that with chlorine exposure from swimming in indoor pools, and these conditions can cause real skin discomfort. It’s an issue that plagues master’s swimmers, triathletes, recreational swimmers, swim club members – even Olympians. Anyone logging regular laps in chlorinated pools can end up with dry, reactive skin.
While chlorine is safe and used as a disinfectant for indoor pools it does have a drying effect; stripping natural oils from skin and hair. It’s also known to cause itchiness, and can potentially raise the pH level of the skin, resulting in dryness and sensitivity. Combined with preexisting conditions like eczema, acne, or rosacea, the combination of winter weather and chlorine exposure can be a perfect storm for skin flare-ups. Luckily, there are ways you can alleviate and prevent some of the negative side effects winter swimming can have on your skin.
Pre-swim barrier protection
At 7 Fathoms, we talk a lot about maintaining your skin barrier. This top layer of skin is your body’s first line of defence against external irritants like bacteria, pollution, and even chlorine.
We always recommend our Seaweed Skincare Lotion for barrier maintenance – it contains a high level of our in-house Laminaria Digitata Seaweed extract, which is high in Fucoidan – a compound that supports your skin barrier by boosting hydration and calming irritation, making it great for sensitive skin. We lovingly refer to this extract as “a hug for the skin”, and it shows – it’s a gentle way to maintain your skin barrier.
Pre-swim rinse
Not only do most pools require that you rinse off before a swim for hygiene reasons, it’s actually an important step in protecting your skin from chlorine absorption; pre-saturating your skin with clean water helps minimize the amount of chlorinated water that can penetrate. Think of it as giving your skin a head start — a simple way to strengthen the barrier before exposing it to chemical stress.
Rinse right after you swim
Showering in lukewarm water after a swim helps remove chlorine and chloramine from the skin, scalp, and hair, before they can cause any redness or itchiness. The sooner you rinse, the better, and using a gentle cleanser that you know your skin won’t react to can also help!
Apply post-swim barrier protection while the skin is still damp
Using a protective moisturizer or product right after your shower, while the skin is still damp, is a great way to help lock in moisture and rehydrate your skin barrier. Our customers have had a lot of success using our Seaweed Hair, Scalp, and Body Spray to help ease post-swim itchiness. This spray delivers over 90% pure seaweed extract, the highest concentration across our line. Extracted from Laminaria digitata, it’s rich in bioactive fucoidan, beta-glucans, and polyphenols—compounds that studies have shown to offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support. It’s what makes the spray more than a moisturizer — it’s functional care for real skin exposure. One of our customers, Trevor, swears by it!
"I swim daily at a public pool that is heavily chlorinated. I was getting terribly itchy skin and chlorine rash from the constant chlorine water exposure despite showering after every swim. The dry winter air didn't help either. The itching was so bad that it would wake me up at night and keep me up, ruining my sleep. I tried everything. All the lotions, oils, and skin cleansers recommended to me online and by other swimmers. Then I tried 7 Fathoms scalp treatment spray after reaching out to the owners to see which of their seaweed products would be best and may hold the solution for me and to my great surprise and relief it works!
No more itchy skin, just sound sleeping and more swim training. I apply the spray after every shower post swim workout when the skin is still a bit damp. I have also been using the lotion before bed for even more protection. Thanks so much for the recommendation and the wonderful products. I highly recommend 7 Fathoms to anyone suffering from itchy skin or chlorine rash. It just works, plus it feels good to support a small Canadian company using natural ingredients!”
Winter swimming doesn’t have to mean months of itchy, reactive skin.
With a few intentional habits, like protecting your skin barrier before you swim, rinsing promptly after, and replenishing moisture while your skin is still damp, it’s possible to keep swimming consistently without dealing with discomfort.
At 7 Fathoms, we believe skin resilience is built the same way endurance is: through steady, supportive care. The seaweed we work with thrives in cold, turbulent North Atlantic waters, and those same bioactives help support skin that’s exposed to harsh winter air and chlorine-heavy pools. If swim training is part of your routine, your skincare should work just as hard.
