Love Swimming? Here’s What Chlorine Might Be Doing To Your Body

Published on

July 02, 2025

Emily Navas

Chlorine can mess with your hormones, lungs, and skin. Here’s how to stay strong—and keep swimming.

If swimming is part of your weekly rhythm—whether you’re training, exercising, or cheering on your kids at the pool—you’re probably reaping all the incredible benefits that come with it: full-body movement, low impact on joints, mental calm, and that unique post-swim glow.

But there’s one piece that often gets overlooked: chlorine exposure.

Most people assume that because chlorine is used to keep pools “clean,” it must be safe. But the truth is, frequent exposure to chlorine (especially in indoor pools) can affect your skin, lungs, hormones, and thyroid in subtle but significant ways.

Let’s talk about how—and what you can do to protect yourself without giving up the water you love.

The truth about chlorine (and why it’s not as harmless as you think)

When chlorine mixes with sweat, sunscreen, or skin cells in the water, it creates byproducts—things like chloramines and trihalomethanes—that are much more irritating than chlorine itself. These don’t just sit in the water; they float in the air, especially indoors, and can be absorbed through your skin and inhaled into your lungs.

Over time, this can contribute to:

Dry, itchy skin or red eyes that linger after you swim
Irritated lungs, chronic cough, or even increased asthma risk
Disrupted thyroid and hormone balance (especially in women)

The connection to thyroid health is particularly important. Chlorine competes with iodine—a mineral your body uses to make thyroid hormones and regulate estrogen receptors. If you’re low in iodine, chlorine can make it harder for your thyroid to function optimally, and symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or hormonal irregularity may start to show up.

So how do you protect yourself—without giving up your pool time?

Start by rinsing off right after you get out of the water—yes, at the pool. Not when you get home, not after lunch, right then. That simple step stops the chlorine from lingering on your skin and continuing to get absorbed.

And if you’re really committed to your swimming practice, it might be worth looking at your iodine intake, too. Most people do fine with a small daily amount (usually found in a good multivitamin), or you can add in a little kelp seasoning here and there—just don’t go overboard. If you have any thyroid concerns or autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s, talk to your practitioner before making changes.

A few more quick tips…

Try to choose outdoor pools when possible (fresh air really helps), and if you’re hanging around indoor pools a lot—for swim team, coaching, or spectating—keep an eye on how your lungs feel after. Even watching from the bleachers can expose you to airborne chlorine byproducts.

Support your detox systems naturally, too. Hydration, antioxidant-rich foods (like berries, citrus, and greens), and yes—even an occasional sauna or Epsom salt bath—can help your body clear out what it doesn’t need.

Swimming can absolutely be part of a healthy lifestyle—as long as you stay aware and support your body along the way.

Need help with detox support, hormone balance, or thyroid health? This is what I do every day with my patients, and I’d love to support you.

Let’s keep you strong, balanced, and in the water—safely.

Warmly,
Emily Navas, LAc

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