Forehead like braille: Chlorine rash (Chemical dermatitis)

After swimming on Thursday, my face was unusually tight and itchy. I can home and washed it with my usual stuff and since then, my forehead has turned into a braille like texture that's red, rash-like and hurts. It awakened me at 5:30 this morning! I did a little research and apparently, when you are submerged in water for a period of time, water removes the thin layer of surface oil of the skin that normally locks in moisture. Without that protective layer, fluid in the skin and surrounding cells evaporate rapidly, drying the skin. Lack of moisture also causes tiny fissures to develop, causing the skin to become irritated and itchy. And if you have sensitive skin like I do,  this is a nightmare! Along with the moisture loss how about the chlorine? Chlorine is an irritant if you have sensitive skin.

Some call it the the swimming pool rash or Chlorine rash. This can occur the skin is exposed to excessive amounts of chlorine, which is a skin irritant. Chlorine is a necessary component in swimming pools in order to kill bacteria that can lead to skin and health problems. If the strength of the chlorine in the water is too strong or if repetitive exposure to chlorinated water occurs, a chlorine rash or chlorine itch may develop. This is a form of chemical dermatitis.

So, the best treatment or remedy is to stay away from chlorinated water for a while to let the skin recover from the chlorine exposure. But how am I going to do this when I am trying to learn to swim and get ready for my race?? I found that certain lotions can be applied to the skin prior to swimming to block the effects of chlorine on the skin. This is a useful procedure for those who need to be in swimming pools such as competitive swimmers.

I ordered a brand called DermaSwim Pro from Amazon.com this morning. I am also going to try a line of products by Dermalogica for my regular cleansing and moisture routine for awhile.