Age appropriate skin and hair care should be part of a year-round routine for children of all ages. However, once the Winter rolls around, it becomes even more vital to stick to a routine that works for your skin and hair type. Apart from purchasing protective equipment like rash guards and swim caps, a proper skin and hair care routine can drastically protect and reduce the effects of the chemicals in pools. To help you build a skin and hair care routine with your child, we’ve compiled a quick list of general skin and hair care tips that’ll help maintain your child’s skin and hair and allow them to attend swim lessons year round! Please do keep in mind that our suggestions do not replace medical instruction and if you have persistent concerns regarding your child’s health, please see your family doctor as soon as possible.
Before Swimming:
1. Pre-Swim Rinse
Apart from keeping the pool cleaner for everyone, a pre-swim shower is a great way to protect your hair and skin! When dry and dehydrated skin and hair comes in contact with pool water (and all the chemicals that go in to keep the pool clean and safe), chlorinated water will be absorbed. A pre-swim rinse reduces the amount of pool water absorbed.
2. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
One of the key elements to fighting dry skin is constant hydration. This doesn’t just mean drinking water - your skin also absorbs hydration through moisturizing lotions and creams. Even on days where you don’t plan on swimming, your child should be using a moisturizing lotion, especially after showering.
For your hair, the same principle applies, using child safe hair repair treatments that focus on hydrating and nourishing the hair is essential once you start to notice your child’s hair starting to become dry and brittle. If possible, avoid shampoo and conditioners that contain sulfates, parabens, phthalates and formaldehyde.
3. Take Your Vitamins and Antioxidants
It’s normal that your child’s body needs a little extra help keeping healthy. If you’re noticing dry and flaky skin, consider adding multivitamin and Omega 3 supplements to your child’s diet. These vitamins and minerals work at a cellular level to enhance the water retention capabilities of the cellular membrane. Increasing the antioxidants consumed is another great way to build healthy skin from the inside out! Foods rich in antioxidants include berries, dark chocolate, green/matcha tea, beans and spinach - some of these can be combined to make a fun and healthy post swim snack for your child after they’ve worked up an appetite after their swim lesson.
After Swimming:
1. Shower and Moisturize
After swimming, it’s very important to take a warm (not hot) shower to wash off all the chlorine and pool water before they can be absorbed into your child’s skin. Allowing the chemicals to dry on their skin may cause irritation and rashes especially for those that have sensitive skin.
If possible, try to limit your child’s shower to once a day just after their swim lesson. For example, on the days your child has a swimming lesson, make the post-swim shower your child’s shower for the day. Showering too often removes the protective oils your skin produces to keep the moisture locked in. Use gentle products in the shower and avoid scrubbing at the skin and hair and the skin can be easily irritated.
After showering, use a soft towel to dry and always remember to use a moisturizing lotion on their skin. We recommend using an oil-based moisturizer but find one that works best for your child’s skin type. If your child’s skin is still feeling dry, re-apply their lotion before they go to bed.
2. Wash The Swimsuit!
After every swim lesson, ensure that your child’s swimsuit is washed and dried appropriately. Besides helping it last longer, washing the swimsuit will help remove the dry chlorine and sweat particles that could cause more irritation to your child’s skin after repeated use without washing. Most swim suits can be washed in the washing machine in a mesh laundry bag with a mild, bleach-free detergent. We recommend adding a few towels to the load to prevent over agitation and running the wash under the delicate cycle with cold water. To dry, lay the swimsuit flat, away from direct heat and sunlight. For quicker drying, roll it gently in a towel before laying it flat.
We hope that these tips will come in handy over the Winter season and make swim classes more accessible to those that may have been worried about the effects swimming in the colder weather can have on young bodies. We currently have lessons year round at our pools in Richmond, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Cloverdale, and Abbotsford. For more information on our programs, how to register, and much more, head over to our website! Come swim with Swim Fins: https://www.swimfins.ca/register