How to Minimize the Side Effects of Chlorine + Swimming Pool Chemicals

Swimming and summer go hand in hand. But that little slice of summer shouldn’t harm your health. We’re looking at the dangers of chlorine in swimming pools and how you can protect your family while still enjoying fun in the water.

Many parents are concerned about exposing small children, especially babies, to the high levels of chlorine in most swimming pools — and for good reason. The side effects of pool chemicals like chlorine and chloramines can impact children’s skin, lungs, and overall health.

It’s a valid concern, so we’re covering ways to minimize chlorine exposure while swimming.

Is Chlorine in Pools Harmful to Kids? Here’s What the Research Shows

Swimming in chlorinated pool water — especially when chlorine reacts with sweat, skin, and other organic matter — can lead to a range of pool chemical side effects, including hormone disruption, asthma, and skin irritation.

Chlorine is effective at killing microbes in swimming pools. In water, chlorine reacts with sweat, urine (all the more reason to avoid public pools!), skin cells and other organic materials to produce chemical byproducts called chloramines (source). In animal studies, some of those chemicals have been linked with asthma and bladder cancer.

These byproducts don’t just stay in the water. They are released into the air above the pool surface, particularly in indoor environments with limited ventilation. That strong “chlorine smell” you may notice at some pools? It’s actually chloramines, not chlorine itself. It’s a warning sign of potential irritants in the air.

Studies have connected exposure to chlorinated pool water — and especially the inhalation of chloramines — to health issues including:

• Skin irritation and eczema flare-ups
• Asthma and respiratory distress
• Allergic reactions
• Hormone disruption
• Potential bladder toxicity (in long-term or high-exposure cases)

A 2023 meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Public Health confirmed a statistically significant increase in asthma risk among children who regularly swim in indoor chlorinated pools. The study emphasized that younger children and those with existing allergies or sensitivities are most vulnerable to chlorine-related respiratory symptoms. (source)

A study from the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, analyzed water from a public pool and identified more than 100 chemical byproducts formed when chlorine reacted with organic matter. (source)

The American Academy of Pediatrics has also raised concerns. In a study of more than 800 children, researchers found that those with pre-existing asthma or allergies experienced worsening symptoms after regular exposure to chlorinated water. (source)

Another study shows that sunscreen mixed with chlorine creates a harmful cocktail on wet skin. It neutralizes sunscreen’s protective qualities and releases two dangerous chemicals. The combination of avobenzone and chlorine breaks down the former, and acetyl benzenes and phenols are released when chlorine meets avobenzone. (source)

Why Babies Are Especially Vulnerable

Babies and toddlers are especially vulnerable to chlorine’s effects due to their more permeable skin, immature immune systems, and smaller airways. Even short exposures can trigger skin irritation or respiratory symptoms, particularly in babies with eczema, asthma, or allergies.

How to Minimize Chlorine Exposure While Swimming

If you don’t live close enough to a gorgeously sparkling lake or ocean, a pool is still a useful and fun way to keep cool. Whether it’s your own, a friend’s, or a community pool, you can minimize chlorine exposure and keep your family protected from dangerous pool chemicals.

Swim Outdoors

Swim outdoors rather than at an indoor facility. This helps to ventilate the chlorine and lessen the effects of the chemicals on little bodies. Better yet, try to find an outdoor pool that uses salt water, UV, or ionization, which all use fewer chlorine and chemicals for maintenance.

Editor’s note: When my oldest son was 6, we took him to swimming lessons at an indoor facility. The smell was potent – almost hard to breathe some days.

After the first lesson and only 30 minutes in the water, he developed eczema patches behind his knees and elbows so bad, they looked like burns. We had to quit and wait for warmer weather outdoor lessons.

Rinse Off Before Diving In

I know! Turns out that’s not a myth. We all remember whining as children, “Do I really have to shower BEFORE I swim?!”

My parents never made us rinse off, but in hindsight I wish we had. Rinsing off not only helps to fight off the chemicals which may seep into our skin and hair, it also washes off sweat, which, when mixed with chlorine, can create more chloramines.

Apply Coconut Oil as a Barrier

As further protection, apply a light layer of coconut oil before swimming to preserve the skin’s natural pH balance and protect further against chemical seepage.

Coconut oil can help form a protective barrier on the skin before swimming. While it has a very low natural SPF, it’s best used in conjunction with a mineral sunscreen if swimming during peak sun hours.

Choose a Safer Sunscreen

Use sunscreen that does not contain avobenzone. Check our guide to nontoxic sunscreens here. Or plan your swimming in shady areas or before or after peak sun hours (generally from 10 to 4).

Try Vitamin C Spray

A 2023 dermatologist-recommended hack: Apply a vitamin C spray before swimming to help neutralize chlorine on contact and reduce oxidative stress on skin.

And when everyone’s rinsed off after swimming, spritz some Vitamin C, which neutralizes the effects of chlorine and chloramine. You can find topical Vitamin C serum or make your own spray by dissolving 1 teaspoon of powdered Vitamin C or Vitamin C crystals into 2 cups of filtered water. Add to a glass spray bottle and keep in your pool bag.

What Are the Most Common Pool Chemical Side Effects?

While chlorine helps keep pools clean, exposure to pool chemicals — especially their byproducts — can lead to unwanted health effects. Some of the most common pool chemical side effects include:

• Dry, itchy, or irritated skin
• Red, burning eyes
• Persistent cough or sore throat after swimming
• Worsening of asthma or allergy symptoms
• Eczema flare-ups, especially in young children

These effects are often more pronounced after swimming in indoor pools, where ventilation is limited and chloramines can build up in the air. Taking a few simple steps before and after swimming can help reduce your family’s risk of these symptoms.

What to Do If Your Child Reacts to Chlorine

If your child develops a rash, cough, or other reaction after swimming:

• Rinse immediately with lukewarm water and use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
• Apply a soothing lotion or aloe vera gel.
• Offer hydration to help flush chemicals from their system.
• If symptoms persist, talk with a pediatrician. You might want to explore alternative swimming options such as saltwater or natural pools.