Chlorine is the most widely used disinfectant for swimming pool water in the UK. It is important to maintain the correct ‘free chlorine residual’ at all times. If you can smell the chlorine, it means that there is not enough ‘free chlorine’ in the water – the distinctive smell comes from chlorine that has combined with other compounds that were not washed off people’s bodies before swimming, hence the importance of using toilet and shower facilities before you swim. In the UK, people often skip the pre-swim shower so pools tend to be more heavily chlorinated than in countries where there is more of a culture of washing before swimming in a pool. Chlorine stablisers are used in outdoor pools to prevent loss of chlorine due to sunlight.

Salt-water chlorination has been used for many years in Europe, Australia and South Africa as it removes the need to add chlorine separately to a pool. It is a less common way of sanitising pools in the UK. Salt-water chlorination works by having an electrolytic cell break down the salt (sodium chloride) dissolved in the water in order to produce chlorine, which acts as the sanitiser. Salt-water chlorination at swimming pool water strength does not bleach and, according to the manufacturers, is kinder to the skin and eyes.

At The Sensitive Skincare Co, we suggest that if you remove chlorine and soften hard water from your everyday bathing water your skin will be more resistant to becoming irritated by the chlorine in swimming pools. Also a good way to help skin is to provide it with an invisible barrier for protection. A very easy way to do this is to use our Pre-bath and shower oil. Simply apply to dry skin, then bathe. If this is done the night before a trip to the swimming pool the skin will be protected.