Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentPreventionWhen to Call a Healthcare ProviderOther CausesOther Side EffectsChlorine Alternatives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Prevention
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Other Causes
Other Side Effects
Chlorine Alternatives
Achlorinerash is a discolored (a change in skin tone) or red, itchy rash that shows up within hours after swimming in a chlorinated pool or soaking in a hot tub. Although some people call it a “chlorine allergy,” a chlorine rash is a non-allergic skin reaction (irritant contactdermatitis) that happens when a substance damages theskin’s protective outer layer.
This article looks at the symptoms, causes, and treatment of chlorine rash as well as conditions that look similar. It also offers tips on how to prevent chlorine rash.
Symptoms of Chlorine Rash
A chlorine rash can develop whenever you have spent time in chlorinated water. It typically appears within a few hours of swimming in a chlorinated pool or soaking in a chlorinated hot tub.
Symptoms of a chlorine rash include:
A chlorine rash is not contagious. The symptoms won’t get worse after the first day as long as you stay out of the pool.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
How Long Does a Chlorine Rash Last?A chlorine rash is a type of irritantcontact dermatitis. Symptoms of irritant contact dermatitis typically begin to decrease within one to two days after exposure to the irritant.It’s important to avoid chlorine during this time because re-exposure can delay healing.
How Long Does a Chlorine Rash Last?
A chlorine rash is a type of irritantcontact dermatitis. Symptoms of irritant contact dermatitis typically begin to decrease within one to two days after exposure to the irritant.It’s important to avoid chlorine during this time because re-exposure can delay healing.
Alphabetical List of Common Rashes and Their Causes
Causes of Chlorine Rash
Chlorineis a strong chemical additive that’s used to keep pools and hot tubs safe from algae, bacteria, and other microbes. However, soaking in chlorinated water can lead to a rash for two reasons:
The underlying cells react to harsh, damaging chemicals, and the body releases chemicals to protect and heal cells. This response (inflammation) can also cause skin discoloration, swelling, itching, and other symptoms.
Some people are more sensitive to chlorine than others, including people witheczemaorpsoriasis. These conditions cause scaly, disrupted skin that makes it easier for irritants to get to the underlying cells.
Competitive swimmers, lifeguards, and anyone who spends a lot of time in the pool is more likely to get a chlorine rash. The risk of chlorine rash is higher if the chlorine levels in the water are high. However, it can also occur with mildly chlorinated water when the ammonia found in sweat and urine combines with chlorine to create a harsh chemical (chloramine). The risk of this interaction is high in public pools.
A Word From VerywellTo minimize skin changes related to chlorine, it’s important to minimize exposure to chlorine when possible. After getting out of the pool, rinse with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water and follow with a moisturizing cream or lotion to minimize dryness and irritation. If you experience a chlorine rash, hydrocortisone and gentle moisturizing creams may be applied. If redness or a rash persists, speak with a dermatologist to determine if any additional treatment options would be needed.—MARISA GARSHICK, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
To minimize skin changes related to chlorine, it’s important to minimize exposure to chlorine when possible. After getting out of the pool, rinse with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water and follow with a moisturizing cream or lotion to minimize dryness and irritation. If you experience a chlorine rash, hydrocortisone and gentle moisturizing creams may be applied. If redness or a rash persists, speak with a dermatologist to determine if any additional treatment options would be needed.—MARISA GARSHICK, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
To minimize skin changes related to chlorine, it’s important to minimize exposure to chlorine when possible. After getting out of the pool, rinse with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water and follow with a moisturizing cream or lotion to minimize dryness and irritation. If you experience a chlorine rash, hydrocortisone and gentle moisturizing creams may be applied. If redness or a rash persists, speak with a dermatologist to determine if any additional treatment options would be needed.
—MARISA GARSHICK, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Treatment for Chlorine Rash
Chlorine rash is typically treated at home with (OTC) medications. Most rashes will clear up after several days of treatment and avoiding swimming pools and hot tubs until you’re fully healed.
Treatments for chlorine rash that can be used alone or in combination, include the following:
If your symptoms do not improve after using OTC treatments, call your healthcare provider. You may need to see a skin specialist (dermatologist) for treatment.
The Best Lotions for Eczema, Tested and Reviewed
If you tend to get a chlorine rash or have a chronic skin condition that increases the risk of contact dermatitis, there are several things you can do before and after swimming to protect yourself.
How Water Walking Can Help Boost Your Fitness (and Health)
Monitoring Chlorine Levels
Keeping an eye on the chlorine levels in your pool or hot tub is important. Having the right balance of the chemical in the water helps keep swimmers safe from germs. If you have just added chlorine or another pool cleaner, wait at least a few hours before getting into the water (or when the test strips show that the pool is safe for swimming).
Be aware ofchloramines, a gas reaction that forms when chlorine mixes with sweat from swimmers and other substances that get into the water. While all chlorinated pools can have a chemical odor, that “pool smell” tends to be stronger when the water has a lot of chloramines in it.
The pool should have enough chlorine chemicals to kill germs, but you also want to limit how much of those chloramines you’re exposed to. Here are a few pool tips to keep in mind:
If you’re at a public pool and smell a strong chemical smell or see feces floating in the water, get out of the pool and immediately tell the pool operator/lifeguard.
What Is Chlorine Rash?
If you’ve had a rash for a few days after swimming and it’s not getting better, it’s getting worse, or you’re having other symptoms like discoloration or redness, itching, or peeling, you should call your healthcare provider. They can look at the rash and figure out if it’s from chlorine or something else.
You should also seek medical care right away if you’re having signs of a more serious allergic reaction or poisoning, like wheezing, trouble breathing, vomiting, or severe pain.
Common Skin Rashes in Kids
Other Causes of Rashes
There are other rashes and types of irritation you can get from swimming.
Swimmer’s Itch
“Swimmer’s itch” (cercarialdermatitis) is an allergy to a microscopic, worm-like parasite that infects some birds and mammals. The larvae of the parasites (schistosomes) are released from infected snails into fresh and saltwater (such as lakes, ponds, and oceans). The larvae burrow their way into water-exposed skin.
The symptoms of swimmer’s itch tend to get worse in a predictable way:
Scratching only makes the symptoms worse and can lead to pain and scarring.Swimmer’s itch is not contagious.
The treatment for swimmer’s itch is mostly about managing your symptoms until the irritation gets better on its own (usually within a day or two). Soaking in soothing Epsom salts, baking soda, or oatmeal baths and applying cool compresses can help with the discomfort from the rash.
Hot Tub Folliculitis
Miliaria
Cold Urticaria
Other Side Effects of Chlorine
Besides skin irritation and a rash, chlorine can also cause other symptoms like:
Alternatives to Chlorine for Pools
If you’re concerned that the chlorine in your pool will irritate your skin, you might want to think about alternative pool cleaners. While they can be costly, there are other pool sanitation systems that can cut down on how much chlorine you’re exposed to when you go for a swim.
Summary
When to Seek Medical Care for a Rash
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Parasites - cercarial dermatitis (also known as swimmer’s itch).
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Arberas-Jiménez I, Sifaoui I, Reyes-Batlle M, et al.Ultraviolet - Chlorine combined treatment efficiency to eliminateNaegleria fowleriin artificial surf lagoons.Heliyon. 2022;8(11):e11625. Published 2022 Nov 18. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11625
Gomà A, de Lluis R, Roca-Ferrer J, Lafuente J, Picado C. “Respiratory, Ocular and Skin Health in Recreational and Competitive Swimmers: Beneficial Effect of a New Method to Reduce Chlorine Oxidant Dervatives.“Environmental Research.2017 Jan;152:315-321. DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2016.10.030.Khodaee M, Edelman GT, Spittler J, et. al. “Medical Care for Swimmers.“Sports Medicine Open.2016 Dec; 2: 27. DOI:10.1186/s40798-016-0051-2.
Gomà A, de Lluis R, Roca-Ferrer J, Lafuente J, Picado C. “Respiratory, Ocular and Skin Health in Recreational and Competitive Swimmers: Beneficial Effect of a New Method to Reduce Chlorine Oxidant Dervatives.“Environmental Research.2017 Jan;152:315-321. DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2016.10.030.
Khodaee M, Edelman GT, Spittler J, et. al. “Medical Care for Swimmers.“Sports Medicine Open.2016 Dec; 2: 27. DOI:10.1186/s40798-016-0051-2.
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