There’s nothing quite relaxing as pool time in the summers, right? While swimming is a great exercise for the body, it can be a trying time for your skin. After all, the skin can have some strong reactions, thanks to the chlorinated water and heat. Want to take some precautions before you go for your next dip? Here’s what you need to keep in mind.

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Showering before and after

Before beginning your swimming session, make sure you shower as all the impurities from your body are removed before you enter the pool. While many swimmers shower before getting into the pool, they often get lazy to shower after. One must keep in mind that showering after pool time is crucial because you must rinse off the chlorine in your skin and hair as it can make both dry, not the mention the kind of bacteria that might have accumulated on your skin post a public pool swim.

Ensure that you also moisturise your skin well after your swim.

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Stay hydrated

Swimming is a rigorous form of exercise and any form of workout makes your body lose water, which can lead to dehydration. It is important to drink enough water before as well as after swimming to restore the body’s moisture levels. You’ll also note that your skin feels and looks dry post a swim. So feel free to lather on that face moituriser post your shower to keep your skin from feeling stretchy.

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Sunblock

Tanning is the invariable side effect of swimming. In order to save yourself from the harmful UV rays, make sure you apply lots of waterproof sunscreen before stepping in. This will give your skin the much-needed shield you need while swimming under the sun. We suggest you use the Lakmé 9-5 Super Sunscreen, which has two variants, one for dry skin and the other for oily.

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Swimmer accessories

The chlorine can cause some serious damage to your hair. So it’s most recommended that your tie your hair and tuck it under a swimming cap. Since the chemicals in the water do tend to dry your hair, a weekly oil massage that conditions the hair and scalp is most recommended for regular swimmers. In addition, you can keep your eyes protected with swimming glasses and if you’re one that catches ear infections often, ear plugs can be a great help.