How chlorine in your water might be affecting your skin

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Has your skin ever felt tight, dry or irritated after a lovely long day relaxing in the pool? Chlorine is a chemical commonly used in water treatment, from backyard pools to our drinking water. While it’s a highly effective disinfectant, and you wouldn’t want to swim in untreated water, it does have various downsides and may be negatively affecting our health and our skin.

Water Filters Australia offers high-quality vanity water filters that give you access to water that’s better for your skin, teeth and even your tap. Considering how often you wash your hands each day and the negative effects of constant chlorine exposure, switching to filtered water could make a drastic difference.

Chlorine is a chemical element used to sterilise water. It can be added to water in various forms, including gas, liquid sodium hypochlorite or solid calcium hypochlorite and successfully eliminates harmful microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and parasites. Chlorine works by breaking down the cell walls of these pathogens and disrupting their internal processes. We continue to use chlorine in our water treatment due to its effectiveness and affordability. It also provides residual protection as it continues disinfecting water as the water moves through pipes to consumers.

The use of chlorine in municipal water supplies began in the early 20th century and soon became the global standard in developed countries, following its track record of success. Chlorination significantly reduced outbreaks of illnesses like cholera, typhoid and dysentery, leading to the implementation of robust safety regulations and monitoring systems to maintain safe levels of chlorine in potable water.

Chlorine is added to water at levels considered safe for human consumption, and carefully regulated by health authorities to ensure it effectively disinfects without posing health risks to the community. However, even at safe levels, it can still affect sensitive skin, especially for those with conditions like eczema and dermatitis.

While it’s a good thing that chlorine can remove pathogens, as a strong oxidant, it also breaks down the natural oils on the skin’s surface. These oils act as a protective barrier, and stripping them disrupts moisture levels, leaving the skin more prone to dryness and irritation.

Frequent exposure to chlorinated water, like washing hands multiple times a day, only compounds the dehydration problem. As the skin’s natural barrier wears down over time, it loses moisture more rapidly, leading to dryness, roughness or flakiness.

Signs that your skin might not be coping with chlorine exposure also include coarseness, peeling and a dull or uneven appearance. This can be particularly noticeable on the face where normal, healthy skin has a natural, healthy glow.

Irritation and sensitivity are particularly concerning for people with existing skin conditions. Chlorine exposure can exacerbate affected areas where the natural oil barrier is already weakened, making them more reactive. It can also trigger flare-ups or worsen symptoms like itching, redness and discomfort.

Some of the signs that skin is experiencing irritation and sensitivity to chlorine present in the water include rashes, swelling and other inflammatory responses, stinging sensation due to chlorine’s acidity and contact dermatitis.

Additionally, when it’s cold outside, it’s common to wash hands in warm water when possible, however, that can be problematic. Hot water alone can dry out the skin by causing pores to open slightly. When chlorine is present, those open pores can absorb more of it, increasing the risk of irritation and making existing dryness or discomfort even worse.

As mentioned before, chlorine is a strong oxidant. When it comes into contact with the skin, it can produce free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage cells by triggering oxidative stress. This process breaks down collagen, a structural protein essential for skin elasticity and firmness.

As collagen degrades, the skin loses resilience and structure, making it more vulnerable to environmental stressors and premature aging. Signs of this include reduced plumpness, a dull or lacklustre appearance and thinning of the skin.

While chlorine has its place in pools and is essential for sanitising public drinking water, you don’t have to consume it, and you don’t have to keep exposing the sensitive skin on your hands to it. WFA offers high-quality inline water filters, including a bathroom vanity filter option. While our filters remove the harmful stuff, they leave the good elements in, like fluoride, which is essential for healthy teeth.

At Water Filters Australia, our inline water filters are available online from our Australian distribution centre. They are manufactured in the United States to the highest quality and functionality standards. We only supply independently Watermark Certified systems, and we stock a complete inventory of certified replacement cartridges with 100% Australian-based customer support.

As we head into winter, the dry season for skin, take good care of your hands and avoid chlorine when you can. Shop online today or contact our team for personalised advice on the best system for your home or caravan.