Pool swimmers often complain of water-related skin problems. Chlorine has a caustic effect, causing an alteration of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the epidermis), the skin barrier. This skin barrier was coined by Dr. Peter M. Elias of the University of California, San Francisco, an expert in skin barrier and epidermal biology.
The stratum corneum functions to form a barrier to protect the underlying tissue from infection, dehydration, chemical, and mechanical stress. This level of skin consists of dead cells (corneocytes) composed of 15-20 layers of flattened cells without nuclei or cell organelles. These corneocytes are embedded in a lipid matrix composed of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.
This barrier is produced through a process called desquamation, cells are shed from the surface of the stratum corneum and proliferating keratinocytes (cells that produce keratin, a beneficial protein for the body) are balanced. These cells then migrate through the epidermis to the surface on a journey that takes approximately fourteen days.
In other words, we are born with a healthy skin barrier that is capable of naturally keeping skin moist and hydrated. Unfortunately, over time that layer of skin is damaged by things like cold weather, excessive sun exposure, prolonged immersion in water, wind conditions, and other environmental factors. These causes break down the components of this layer of our skin and leave it unprotected, susceptible to pruning, wrinkled skin, inflammation, bacteria, dryness, itching, and allergen – damage.
Can drinking water help hydrate the skin?
We are made of water (the average adult human body is 50-65% water). Large amounts of water from our body is excreted daily. Therefore, the consumption of water is important because it replaces our supply. According to the FDA, we should drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to maintain what we lose. The myth is that by doing so our skin is properly hydrated. For skin effects, unfortunately, water consumption doesn’t help much. In fact, the water we drink has a long way to go before it reaches our skin. Think of the long and winding path that water travels in our bodies and you will notice how many stops it makes in other organs etc. before it appears on the surface of the skin, for example:
1. Free the body of toxins,
2. Help with our digestive system,
3. Help our organs work properly, etc.
Therefore, in theory, we need to apply water to the skin topically and keep it there somehow to keep the skin moist, hydrated, and wrinkle-free. Moisturizers seek to accomplish this very task.
Moisturizers and the skin barrier
Despite what some advertisers tell us, many moisturizers available today do very little to hold moisture in the skin. That’s because very few can penetrate the stratum corneum. With that truth, can the skin barrier be repaired? The good news is that ‘yes’ you can. Because this layer of cells is made up of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids, that’s why if those elements become depleted and cause skin damage, adding them back to the skin will improve its texture. We achieve this by putting together the missing ingredients of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids in the right measures (formulas) so that they work in a homogeneous way to improve the skin. The mixture is key because just as we initially had them in our body, we must replenish them in a similar way.
What moisturizers even work on the dermis?
1. Shea butter: contains stearic fatty acids and palmitic acid
2. Dermalogica Barrier Repair – shea butter, evening primrose oil
3. Zerafite: Sold by dermatologists as a barrier repair face cream and body cream. http://lesliebaumannmd.com/dr-baumann-recommends-barrier-repair-moisturizers-heres/
4. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream 16 oz Daily Face and Body Moisturizer for Dry Skin – formulated technology allows ceramides to penetrate skin
5. Water: soak your skin with fresh water before swimming
What about working from the inside out?
1. Supplements, such as borage seed, fish oil, or evening primrose oil
2. Hyaluronic Acid – Despite some claims, many dermatologists claim that it cannot enter the dermis when applied topically https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4110621/
3. Water – Drinking 8-10 glasses a day improves skin quality, but it takes time to reach the skin, as mentioned above.
Conclusion
Swimmers have special needs related to the hydration and protection of our skin. Addressing these needs in a logical, informed, and consistent manner can enable swimmers to enjoy the water throughout their lives. The above information does not cover everything that is known on this subject. There are tons more products and procedures that have been shown to work on a swimmer’s skin. This post is an overview, generally providing information on how swimmers should approach their skin care needs.
Try the moisturizers and supplements above after talking with your dermatologists and doctors to see if they are right for you. If they are not, we hope the above information will lead you to the right mix of internal and external remedies designed for your needs.
As swimmers, we have to design and implement a routine to protect our skin. Doing nothing alone can help erode our skin’s barrier over time.
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Thank you and go swimming!