Is salt water pool good for your skin

If you live in South Florida, investing in a saltwater pool is a good idea for several reasons. It is less harsh on your skin, doesn’t burn your eyes, and breaks down pool materials slower. While many residential pools are turning to salt water, so too are many hotels, resorts and day spas.

Table of Contents Show

8 Benefits of Saltwater Pools
Interested in Upgrading to a Saltwater Pool?
Your mind, body, and wallet will thank you for avoiding the extra chemicals.
1. It helps promote healthy breathing and reduce allergy issues.
2. It can act as a gentle exfoliating agent.
3. It's gentler on your eyes and skin.
4. It can reduce stress and anxiety.
5. It helps maintain the body's natural moisture balance.
6. It can help relieve sore muscles and joints.
7. It's better for the environment.
What are the benefits to a salt water pool?
Is salt water pool good for skin and hair?
Should you shower after swimming in saltwater pool?
Does your body absorb the salt in salt water pools?

Salt water pools are not free of chlorine, although they contain less chlorine. They produce chlorine in a different, more natural manner than chlorinated pools. Instead of adding chlorine directly to the water, salt water pools rely on the natural process of electrolysis to turn salt into chlorine. Natural chlorination is believed to be better because it exposes swimmers to fewer toxins. Plus, chlorine pools rely on much higher concentrations of the chemical to kill bacteria lurking in the water.

Salt water pools require specialized pool equipment, but after investing in this original upfront cost, they are relatively the same to care for as chlorine pools. Generally speaking, they do not require additional maintenance.

8 Benefits of Saltwater Pools

1. Feels Better on Your Skin

Many people report that saltwater pools have a silkier and smoother feel on their skin. Plus, they tend to be less irritating to the skin. Chlorine can be harsh on the skin and may irritate preexisting conditions like acne or dryness.

Salt water has been found to help certain skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Salt water works as a natural moisturizer and exfoliate, helping your skin better retain moisture, along with that beautiful summer time glow.

2. Less of a Chemically-smell

You know that strong chlorine odor that wafts off of public pools? Saltwater pools do not have as strong of an off-putting or chemically odor.

3. Better for Your Health

If you suffer from asthma or allergies, a saltwater pool is better for you. This is especially true for indoor pools. A 2003 study found that children who spent time routinely swimming in an indoor chlorinated pool were at a higher risk for developing lung inflammation and asthma. While more research is needed on the matter, it’s still worth taking into consideration.

4. Easier on Your Joints

Some research indicates that saltwater pools may be better for your joint health than chlorinated water. That’s because saltwater contains bromide, which is a mineral known for its soothing properties, capable of easing everyday aches and pains. If you are recovering from an injury, you may find it easier to move in a saltwater pool.

5. Easier on the Eyes

You know how much chlorine can make your eyes sting and turn red? Thanks to the fact saltwater pools rely on lower levels of chlorine, it’s much less irritating to the eyes. Some people find that chlorine irritates their lungs as well, this shouldn’t be an issue with a saltwater pool.

Find yourself thinking about how much the salt water in the ocean burns your eyes? Rest assured, a saltwater pool contains around 10 times less salt than the ocean. There’s approximately 3,000 ppm (parts per million) salinity in a saltwater pool. In the ocean, there’s around 35,000 ppm – so that’s a big difference!

6. Easier to Maintain

A saltwater pool is easier to maintain, although you’ll still need to check pH levels and alkalinity levels on a weekly basis.

7. Hair is Less Likely to Turn Green

Light-haired individuals know what happens if you spend too much time in the pool – your hair can take on a funky shade of green. This is less likely to happen in a saltwater pool than it is in a traditionally chlorinated pool.

8. Easier on Your Pool

Not only is a saltwater pool less harsh on your skin, hair, and eyes, it’s also less harsh on your pool. From tiles to surrounding concrete and plaster, salt water breaks down materials at a much slower rate than straight chlorine. While saltwater pools still need to be checked for erosion and buildup, the effects typically appear slower.

Interested in Upgrading to a Saltwater Pool?

Your mind, body, and wallet will thank you for avoiding the extra chemicals.

Published on July 28, 2020

Saltwater pools are a happy medium between swimming in the ocean and drawing yourself a salt bath at home. Not only are saltwater pools easier to maintain, but they also offer tons of health and beauty benefits. You'll get all the exercise you need from swimming—sans sharks, fish, and other ocean life—while still benefiting from the revitalizing physical and mental qualities that saltwater offers. Not to mention, you'll be saving yourself the extra money associated with owning a chlorinated pool. (You can ditch all those chlorine tablets and switch to one or two salt bags per season.) If you're still not convinced, here are seven benefits of saltwater pools and why you should make the switch.

1. It helps promote healthy breathing and reduce allergy issues.

According to the American Lung Association, inhaling fine salt particles is very beneficial for promoting healthy breathing and reducing allergies. As it turns out, all those fine salt particles draw water into our lung airways, which thins any mucus that might be there. Fun fact: There's a therapeutical treatment called halotherapy that solely focuses on breathing in salt particles via methods like halogenerators and bathing in saltwater.

2. It can act as a gentle exfoliating agent.

People with sensitive skin know how difficult it is to find non-irritating exfoliants. Fortunately, salt water's gentle, yet effective, exfoliating properties can benefit various skin types and conditions, like scaling psoriatic skin, eczema, and acne. "Salt water naturally draws out impurities and toxins," says Rhonda Klein, MD, MPH, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Modern Dermatology in Westport, Connecticut. "The sulfur in salt water has a keratolytic effect—it softens and helps remove dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores."

RELATED: Exfoliation Is the Secret to Glowing Skin—But Only If You're Doing It Right

3. It's gentler on your eyes and skin.

If you get red, burning eyes or itchy hives from traditional pools, it might be even more reason to switch to saltwater. Instead of exposing your body to the chemicals in traditionally chlorinated pools, salt periodically produces chlorine, which acts as a natural disinfectant, meaning it isn't as harsh on your eyes or skin.

4. It can reduce stress and anxiety.

There's a reason why saltwater therapy is so popular. Saltwater isn't just great for your physical body, but it's also beneficial for your mind by helping to alleviate stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that its calming and detoxifying effects can promote feelings of ease and relaxation.

5. It helps maintain the body's natural moisture balance.

According to Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Westport, Connecticut, the minerals found in salt water, such as magnesium and potassium, can help balance oil production and support the skin's barrier so it retains hydration. "The purifying benefits open pores and shed impurities, enabling your skin to absorb moisture from topicals applied afterward."

6. It can help relieve sore muscles and joints.

If you've ever heard of Epsom salt baths or bath bombs, you've probably also heard of how beneficial saltwater is for your muscles. According to Tom Casey, vice president of Anthony & Sylvan Pools, salt's pain-reducing benefits can be attributed to bromine, which "...can help people suffering from arthritis or injuries by treating muscle and joint aches, pains, and soreness."

RELATED: 10 Bath Soaks That Are Both Relaxing and Good for Your Skin

7. It's better for the environment.

Your health isn't the only thing benefiting from opting for a saltwater pool: They're better for the environment, too. The strong chlorine smell that traditional pools give off is the result of chloramines. Although these bind to dirt and sweat to keep the pool clean, they also emit gas from the water into the air, according to the CDC. Saltwater pools do have a small amount of chlorine, but when the water evaporates, it isn't nearly as detrimental to the environment as traditionally chlorinated water.

What are the benefits to a salt water pool?

5 Advantages of a Saltwater Pool.

Saltwater pools are gentler on your body and clothing. Saltwater pools are gentler than traditional chlorine pools. ... .

There is no harsh chlorine smell. You won't have that chlorine smell. ... .

The water is softer. The water is softer. ... .

You don't need to store chlorine. ... .

They cost less to maintain..

Is salt water pool good for skin and hair?

Not only is a saltwater pool less harsh on your skin, hair, and eyes, it's also less harsh on your pool.

Should you shower after swimming in saltwater pool?

Elevated levels of ABRs on the skin lasted for six hours post-swim, according to the study To reduce the risk of skin infections, it's best to shower shortly after you've been in the ocean. Much like with showering post-workout, a shower after the ocean washes away bacterium.

Does your body absorb the salt in salt water pools?

Human skin absorbs sodium, salt, and chlorine from a saltwater pool. Providers have linked numerous health concerns to sodium being absorbed through the skin. Providers have also linked higher heart mortality risks to sodium absorption through the skin, particularly among people with: High blood pressure.