We’ve all felt that uncomfortable tight feeling across our skin after an afternoon in the pool. This is the chlorine stripping your skin’s protective layer of sebum and oil, allowing moisture to escape. But it seems a small price to pay to keep us safe from swimming in dangerous pathogens.
When it comes to transporting water to our homes, chlorine is also essential. And while it is safe to drink and bathe in, prolonged exposure can upset your skin’s healthy pH balance.
Why should you care about your skin’s pH level? Well, your pH level influences your acid mantle which maintains a healthy skin barrier.
And in basic terms, the barrier keeps moisture in and bacteria out.
In more detail
Healthy skin has a naturally slightly acidic pH, typically between 4.7 and 5.75 (the pH scale ranges from 0 being most acidic, to 14, most alkaline, and 7 being neutral). The pH of our skin can vary due to its location (your armpits vs your face for example), certain skin conditions, genetics, age, hormones, and gender (men tend to have a lower average pH).
This mildly acidic pH is maintained by the skin's acid mantle, a protective and important layer made up of sebum, lactic acid, and amino acids. The acid mantle helps to protect against pollution, irritants, and bad bacteria, and helps maintain a strong skin barrier.
A healthy skin barrier is important because it protects our skin from environmental stressors and supports a balanced skin microbiome, which means we are less likely to suffer with acne, eczema, rosacea, premature ageing and more.
If your pH balance is too alkaline, your skin is going to look flaky and red. If it’s too acidic, you’ll increase your chances of inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and acne.
When skin is at its optimum pH, the acid mantle can function at its best and moisture in the skin is balanced.
What about chlorine?
Chlorine has a pH around 7.3, so when your skin encounters it, it can disrupt the skin's pH balance, making it more alkaline.
The knock-on effect of this can be dryness and itching, acne flare-ups, dark spots, premature ageing, and the exacerbation of skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
Chlorine can also kill off beneficial bacteria cells which can also cause your skin to dry out further.
One of the easiest ways to remove chlorine from your beauty regime is with a shower filter such as the ULA system. A filter removes the majority of harsh minerals from hard water and can repair skin and hair affected by chlorine exposure, while also reducing the amount of product needed, washing off soap residue completely, and sealing in moisture.
Other ways to combat chlorine
Another way to reduce the effects of chlorine is to add a vitamin C shower mist to your regime. Vitamin C actually neutralises chlorine, plus its antioxidant properties protects the skin against UV damage and brightens the complexion.
Finally, exposure to chlorine can leave your skin feeling dry so exfoliate regularly and moisturise well to avoid skin looking dull and sluggish.