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Swimming is an enjoyable leisure activity and a great workout. No matter what you do in the pool, your body benefits from healthy movement. There are also numerous swimming benefits for your skin, which not many people realize.
Read about these seven swimming skincare benefits that can start today. Throw on your suit and jump in the water. You’re only a few minutes away from noticeable, natural improvements.
You might feel your feet or hands fall asleep every so often if you don’t move them frequently. Your doctor may have diagnosed you with poor circulation. While you abide by their health recommendations, swimming may eliminate the aches and stinging skin that accompany circulation issues.
When you slide into the water, the buoyancy relieves any pressure on your muscles and veins. Your blood flows more freely and quickly when you begin to pump your legs and arms. Even though you’ll feel the immediate effects in your muscles, your skin functions better with better circulation to superficial veins.
While you swim laps or tread water, you only feel the smooth, cooling glide of it over your skin. As you enjoy the refreshing water, it’s also:
Exfoliation is the way to achieve a radiant glow without additional beauty products. Though you may exfoliate after swimming, the movement begins the process for you by freeing your skin from lingering dead cells and dirt.
The best acne remedies for women address your specific skin type, but swimming does help with acne between treatments. Chlorine-treated pools contain the antibacterial chemical, which kills germs and microorganisms after a short period of exposure.
Swimming is good for acne because it wipes out acne-causing bacteria on your skin, which may prevent future breakouts. It’s helpful, but no replacement for acne scrubs or creams. The chlorine will cleanse your skin, but won’t dive into your pores to stop acne from developing. If you combine swimming and acne treatments, your face will feel brand new.
When you increase your heart rate, it boosts your metabolism. In return, your metabolism eliminates toxins accumulating in your tissues, which is one of the swimming benefits for your skin. A lifestyle lacking exercise won’t get your heart pumping and engage your metabolism like your body needs.
If you want to engage in metabolic detox, consider a few swim workouts designed for beginners. After you get a sense of what your body can do, modify each program to your fitness goals. As you get used to your new workout routine, you’ll experience these swimming benefits for your body that improve your quality of life.
Salt water pools and ocean waves do wonders for your skin cells. Every time you swim in salt-based water, the mineral speeds up the healing process for damaged skin cells. You’ll notice the difference almost immediately because when those skin cells repair themselves, they’ll retain moisture better. You won’t have itchy skin or inflamed skin conditions related to dryness.
As you swim in chlorine-treated pool water, it kills bacteria that might cause acne or irritation. In the process, it strips your skin of natural oils, which can feel great for some people. Anyone with naturally oily skin might feel like swimming balances their body’s natural oil production.
People with average to dry skin could have a different reaction. Your skin naturally has oils on it to lubricate your cells and prevent dryness. Prolonged or frequent exposure to chlorine could dry out your skin and make it uncomfortably red or itchy. If you experience this, you can always apply healthy oils after your swim to restore the balance your body needs.
People most commonly deal with dry skin after taking a dip in a chlorine pool. It may feel uncomfortable, but it’s actually one of the swimming benefits for your body. The resulting dry skin likely increases your lotion use. You might apply more moisturizer than you normally would to your hands, legs and face.
Daily lotion applications provide multiple health benefits you couldn’t get otherwise. You’ll smooth existing callouses, brighten your skin and find it easier to move from the intense hydration. Areas like your knuckles, hands and knees won’t bother you, especially given the added circulation and cellular repair from the motion of swimming.
There are many swimming benefits for your skin, so see them for yourself. Start swimming a few times each week and note any physical changes. As you adapt with potential lotions, oils and cleaners, you’ll find that swimming does much more for your health than exercise your muscles.
Swimming is good for your skin because it does multiple things at once. You’ll cleanse your skin’s surface, remove toxins, heal your cells and even start using lotion more often if you’re regularly swimming to workout. As long as you’re not experiencing chlorine allergy side effects like rashes or chemical burns, a swim routine could be an excellent addition to your skincare routine.
Swimming has multiple benefits for the body. It’s a cardio exercise that increases your heart rate and engages all of your muscles to push you through the water. You’ll build strength while cooling off if you swim laps regularly.
Jumping in a pool also provides the skin care benefits listed above. The numerous benefits of swimming laps at least once a week might be the motivation you need to get moving and add something new to your skincare regimen.
Going to the pool every day will make these skincare and health benefits more prominent in your life. You’ll get more exercise and water exposure, leading to things like improved skin and greater strength. If you swim outside, you’ll also enjoy mental health benefits from socializing at public pools, lakes or other swimming spots.
Your swimming results depend on your goals and how often you’re in the pool. Lounging on a pool floatie also won’t give the same results as swimming laps because it doesn’t get your heart rate up.
Try swimming two or three times per week and journal about how it affects your skin over the next month. You’ll see results from swimming much faster with a reflection tool like a notebook. Researchers also found that people burn around 420 calories after swimming for an hour. If you’re swimming for weight loss, you’ll also need to give yourself a few weeks to a month to see results from that caloric burn.
Original Publish Date 12/3/2020 — Updated 7/11/2024
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