6 Skin Care Tips for Hot Tub Users

Have you ever experienced dry skin & hair after hot tub use? You’re not alone. Water sanitizing chemicals like chlorine and bromine can have this effect, especially on people with sensitive skin. While water sanitizing chemicals are absolutely necessary for killing harmful bacteria that otherwise thrive in warm water, you do not have to sacrifice your hot tub time to eliminate dry skin problems! Here are 6 easy steps to help you maintain beautiful moisturized skin and hair.

Water Conditioning

Adding a water conditioner can make a big difference. Pick one that contains moisturizing ingredients but is oil free to prevent leftover residue at the water line. Just Soft by inSPAration works well and does not affect water chemistry.

Alternative mineral sanitizers that use copper ions or silver minerals sanitize as well as chlorine or bromine and do not dry out your skin.

Skin Moisturizers

After hot tub use, apply a quality natural unrefined shea butter or lotion to your skin. Shea butter is ideal because it contains A and E vitamins as well as beneficial fatty acids, thereby restoring your skin’s natural moisture balance. Shea also melts on contact and absorbs into skin without leaving a greasy residue.

NOTE: Shea products that are white in color have likely gone through an intensive refining process which has stripped the shea butter of its natural healing properties. Unrefined, or grade A, shea butter should have a nutty smell and a firm solidity until heated to body temperature.

Exfoliate

Topical moisturizers are much more effective on exfoliated skin. By using a salt scrub weekly, your shea butter will be able to soak into your skin without being inhibited by a layer of old dead skin.

Dead Sea Mineral salts (which can also be added directly to your spa water) have additional skin nourishing elements:

• Magnesium: essential for cell metabolism.
• Sodium ions: promote supple-feeling skin.
• Potassium: for muscles and nervous system.

You Are What You Eat

Foods that are rich in essential fatty acids like walnuts, flaxseed, salmon, and olive oil can help skin stay hydrated.

Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics and common contributors to dry skin.  Drinking water helps combat the dehydrating effects of our favorite beverages. So, drink lots of H2O before and after hot tubbing! Staying internally hydrated will make you feel better too.

Preventing Dry Hair

Just as chlorine or bromine dry out skin, they can dry out your hair as well. By stripping hair’s natural oils, chemicals can cause brittle, tangled and broken strands. Metals in your hot tub or pool can also cause your hair to turn a greenish tint.

Prevent both of these problems by using a leave-in conditioner or hair lotion to seal the cuticle and pin your hair up before entering the water.

Lips But Not Least!

Lips are one of the most neglected and forgotten parts when it comes to skin care. Consequently, millions of people suffer from chapped lips. This is not only uncomfortable, but peeling lips are unattractive.

Use a quality lip balm that contains natural healing ingredients. Apply before hot tub use and nightly before bed. In just 1-2 days you will notice a big difference in lip texture and any cracking should be diminished or gone.

Do you have any skin care tips that aren’t mentioned here? Comment below and let us know!