Swimming With Psoriasis: Chlorine, Pools and Aftercare

Yes, most people with psoriasis can swim. Psoriasis is not contagious, so there is no medical reason to keep you out of a pool or the sea. The real issues are dryness from chlorine, sunburn at outdoor pools and beaches, and stinging on cracked or raw patches. A little care before and after you swim makes a big difference.

Water and sun are two of the things we cover in our full guide to psoriasis triggers. This post is about swimming itself: hotel and society pools, swimming lessons for children, and beach trips to Goa or Kerala.

Is it safe to swim with psoriasis?

For most people, yes. The UK charity Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (PAPAA) says plainly that psoriasis is not contagious, so there is no reason you should not swim because of it [1]. No one can "catch" psoriasis from pool water, a shared changing room or a towel.

Many Indians still face stares or questions at the pool. Some people get asked by lifeguards or other parents whether the patches are an infection. It can help to carry a short line ready in your head, such as: "It's psoriasis. It's an immune condition and it isn't contagious." If a club or school asks, a note from your dermatologist usually settles the matter.

Swimming also has real benefits. It is low-impact exercise that works the whole body. The National Psoriasis Foundation lists swimming and warm-water exercise among activities people with psoriatic arthritis can enjoy [2]. Arthritis Australia notes that in chest-deep water your legs carry only about a third of your body weight, which is why many people with sore joints move more easily in a pool [3]. If you want ideas for building a routine, see our post on exercise and psoriasis.

Chlorine, salt water and your skin

Chlorinated pools

Most pools in Indian hotels, gyms, clubs and housing societies are disinfected with chlorine. PAPAA notes that pool chlorine may dry out your skin [1], and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) warns that pool chemicals can irritate and dry the skin [4]. For psoriasis-prone skin, that dryness can mean more tightness, itching and flaking in the hours after a swim. It does not mean you must give up the pool. It means the rinse-and-moisturise step afterwards is not optional.

Pools vary. If one pool always leaves your skin worse than another, trust your skin and choose the gentler one where you can.

Sea water

Some people with psoriasis say a dip in the sea leaves their skin feeling better. Others find salt water stings open cracks and dries the skin. There is no good evidence that an ordinary beach holiday improves psoriasis, so treat sea swimming the same way as the pool: protect cracked patches beforehand and rinse off with fresh water afterwards. The bigger risk at the beach is usually the sun, not the salt.

Before you swim: a simple routine

• Check your skin first. The AAD advises keeping children with eczema out of the pool when their skin is raw, oozing, infected or badly flared [4]. That is a sensible rule for psoriasis too. Open skin stings in chlorine or salt water and is more likely to pick up an infection.
• Use a barrier on dry patches. The AAD suggests applying moisturiser or a layer of petroleum jelly to the skin before swimming [4]. On thick plaques on elbows, knees and shins, a thin layer of a plain ointment can reduce how much water and chlorine soak in. Our guide on how to moisturise psoriasis-prone skin explains the difference between lotions, creams and ointments.
• Apply sunscreen for outdoor pools. Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen on skin that the swimsuit does not cover before you get in, and reapply after towelling off.
• Protect the scalp. A silicone swimming cap keeps much of the pool water off scalp psoriasis. Some people put a little oil along the hairline first.
• Do not scrub off scales before swimming. Picking or scrubbing creates small wounds that sting and may worsen psoriasis.

After you swim: rinse, pat, moisturise

This is the most important part. Both PAPAA and the AAD give the same basic advice: shower soon after swimming, then moisturise [1][4].

1. Rinse within a few minutes. Use lukewarm, not hot, water. The AAD specifically says "warm (not hot)" for after-swim showers [4]. Hot water strips more oil from the skin.
2. Use a mild cleanser, sparingly. Strong, foamy soaps add to the dryness. A sulfate-free wash is gentler. Our Xpsoria Body Wash, for example, is sulfate-free, with aloe vera, glycerin and mild coconut-derived cleansers.
3. Pat, do not rub. Leave the skin slightly damp. The AAD recommends patting with a towel and leaving a little water on the skin [4].
4. Moisturise straight away on damp skin. This helps seal in water. Use a thicker cream or ointment on plaques. A moisturiser such as Xpsoria Moisturizer, made with shea butter, aloe vera and coconut, almond and moringa oils, may help with the dryness and itching that chlorine leaves behind.
5. Wash the scalp. If pool water got into your hair, wash it out the same day and apply any scalp treatment your doctor has prescribed afterwards.
6. Change out of the wet swimsuit. Damp fabric in skin folds, such as the groin, under the breasts and the armpits, can irritate inverse psoriasis, especially in humid weather.

If you use a prescribed cream or ointment, ask your dermatologist whether to apply it after swimming or at another time of day. Do not stop a prescribed treatment because of swimming.

Sun safety at outdoor pools and beaches

Many people with psoriasis notice that some sun helps their skin. But sunburn is a known trigger. The AAD says that even a mild sunburn can worsen existing psoriasis and cause new psoriasis to form [5]. It also lists sunburn among injuries, along with cuts, scratches and bug bites, that can cause a flare in the same spot about 10 to 14 days later [6]. Dermatologists call this the Koebner phenomenon. DermNet notes that new psoriasis plaques usually appear 10 to 20 days after an injury, though the range is wider [7].

Outdoor swimming in India is a sunburn risk most of the year. Water reflects light, you may not feel the burn while you are cool in the water, and sunscreen washes off. Some simple habits:

• Swim early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Avoid late morning to mid-afternoon, when UV is strongest.
• Wear a full-length swimsuit or a rash guard if you are comfortable in one. It protects your skin and some people prefer it for privacy too.
• Reapply water-resistant sunscreen after every swim and towel-dry.
• Take extra care if you use treatments that make the skin more sensitive to light. These include phototherapy such as PUVA, and products containing babchi (bakuchi), which contains psoralens. Ask your doctor before planning sun exposure.

For the full picture of when sun helps and when it harms, read psoriasis and sun exposure: helpful or harmful?

Children, swimming lessons and school

Swimming lessons are part of many school sports programmes and summer camps in Indian cities. A child with psoriasis can usually join in. A few practical points help:

• Tell the coach briefly what psoriasis is and that it is not contagious, so the child is not singled out.
• Send a small kit: moisturiser, a mild wash, sunscreen and a swimming cap.
• Check the skin after lessons for cracks, cuts or sunburn.
• If other children tease, a full-length swimsuit can help your child feel more confident while you talk to the school.

Go gently with herbal products on children's skin. Do a patch test first and check with your child's doctor, especially for oils with babchi or strong essential oils.

When to see a doctor

See a dermatologist if any of these happen around swimming or at any other time:

• Patches become hot, swollen, very painful, or ooze yellow fluid or pus. These can be signs of infection.
• A large area of skin turns red and peels, or you feel feverish or unwell with your rash. Widespread redness can be a sign of erythrodermic psoriasis, which needs urgent care.
• Small pus-filled bumps appear on red skin.
• New patches keep appearing after sunburn, or your psoriasis is spreading fast.
• Your joints are swollen, stiff in the morning or painful, which can be a sign of psoriatic arthritis.
• A burning or itchy rash appears after swimming every time, even on skin without psoriasis. This could be an irritation or allergy that needs checking.
• You are on a biologic or another treatment that affects immunity and you get any skin infection.

Frequently asked questions

Can people with psoriasis go in a public swimming pool?

Yes. Psoriasis is not contagious and cannot spread through water [1]. The main reasons to stay out for a while are raw, cracked, oozing or infected skin.

Is chlorine bad for psoriasis?

Chlorine can dry and irritate the skin [1][4], which can make psoriasis feel itchier and flakier. Rinsing off quickly and moisturising on damp skin usually helps a lot.

Does sea water help psoriasis?

Some people find it soothing, but there is no good evidence that a normal beach trip improves psoriasis. Salt water can sting cracks, and beach sun can burn. Rinse with fresh water and moisturise afterwards.

Should I put anything on my skin before swimming?

A thin layer of moisturiser or petroleum jelly on dry patches may act as a barrier [4]. Use water-resistant sunscreen on exposed skin for outdoor pools.

Is swimming good exercise for psoriatic arthritis?

Many people find it helpful because water supports the body and reduces load on the joints [2][3]. Ask a physiotherapist to tailor exercises to your joints.

Sources

1. Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (PAPAA). Q: Can I go swimming?
2. National Psoriasis Foundation. Living with psoriatic arthritis: physical activity.
3. Arthritis Australia (MyPsA). Water exercise.
4. American Academy of Dermatology. Will swimming in a pool trigger my child's eczema?
5. American Academy of Dermatology. Psoriasis: Tips for managing.
6. American Academy of Dermatology. Are triggers causing your psoriasis flare-ups?
7. DermNet. Koebner phenomenon.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified dermatologist or Ayurvedic doctor for diagnosis and treatment.