How to Naturally Protect Your Baby's Skin from Chlorine

Jessica Haizman
May 3, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Jun 10

We're getting ready for summer, which means lots of fun in the water! However, the chlorine used to keep pools clean and free of harmful bacteria can have some negative effects on our bodies. Let's chat about the effects of chlorine exposure and how a simple spray can help counteract these effects.

The Negative Effects of Chlorine (especially with babies and toddlers):

Skin irritation: Chlorine can cause dryness, itchiness, and even rashes on sensitive skin. It strips away the natural oils on your skin, leaving it dehydrated and more prone to irritation.
Hair damage: Chlorine can be harsh on your hair, causing it to become dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. It may also alter the color of dyed or highlighted hair, giving it an unwanted greenish hue.
Eye irritation: If you've ever experienced red, itchy, or burning eyes after swimming in a chlorinated pool, it's likely due to the chlorine. The chemical can cause irritation and discomfort, especially for those wearing contact lenses.
Respiratory issues: Chlorine sits on top of the water, making it easy to inhale into your lungs and ingest into your body. Inhaling chlorine fumes can lead to respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, particularly for those with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Disruption of the microbiome: Chlorine not only kills harmful bacteria in the pool but can also negatively affect the balance of good bacteria on your skin and in your body, potentially leading to various health issues.

When Chlorine is combined with other things like sweat, urine, skin, hair, makeup, or lotions, it creates a harmful chemical known as haloacetic acids or HAAs. HAAs are linked to a host of health problems, including cancer, asthma, liver damage, damage to the nervous system, hormonal disruption, congenital disability sites, skin, eye, and throat irritation. A study conducted by the American Chemical Society suggests HAAs are present in the urine of swimmers 30 minutes after they’ve left the pool, and the levels were even higher in children.

Chlorine affects babies and toddlers more than adults because their skin is thinner and more absorbent, and their lungs and immune systems are still developing. This makes them more sensitive to irritation, dryness, and potential reactions.

Chlorine chemically bonds to your skin and hair, so it’s not as easily removed as, say, dirt or oil. If you are a swimmer, you'll know this! So, to remove chlorine, it needs to be neutralized which is why I created a product to exactly that.

Introducing: Chlorine Cleanse Neutralizing Spray

Chlorine Cleanse is your new after-swim solution for instantly neutralizing chlorine on your skin to mitigate the harmful effects that chlorine has on your body.

😍 Why You'll Love it:

Neutralizes chlorine on contact using sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C)
Helps prevent dryness, itchiness & irritation after swimming
Safe for babies, toddlers & sensitive skin
Refillable, eco-conscious glass bottle (no worries about plastics!)
Preserved naturally with Geogard ECT – no harsh chemicals or fragrances

It's made with completely nontoxic, natural, skin-loving ingredients that were intentionally chosen for a specific purpose.

✅ Vegan

✅ Cruelty-Free

✅ Non-Toxic

✅ Made in Small Batches

✅ Fragrance Free

The beautiful amber glass bottle that not only looks gorgeous but also protects the integrity of the ingredients inside and is a nontoxic, higher-quality alternative to plastic.

Vitamin C is the active ingredient in my chlorine spray because it naturally neutralizes chlorine on contact. It works by breaking down chlorine and chloramine molecules, rendering them harmless and preventing them from irritating the skin or being absorbed into the body. It’s a gentle, effective, and nontoxic way to protect your skin, especially for little ones.

While you can make a version of this spray, without proper measurements, mixing and the addition of a preservative it wont last long. In just a few days it loses efficacy and even in distilled water, without a preservative, microbial growth can begin especially if it's in a warm environment. My Chlorine Cleanse has a shelf life of up to 2 months, giving you both convenience and saving your precious time.

I was able to give it such a long shelf life by adding Geogard ECT (a broad-spectrum, ECOCERT-approved preservative blend made of Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid)

What it does: Prevents the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast in your water-based spray.
Why I chose it:
- It keeps your spray effective and safe for up to 2 months.
- It’s nontoxic, biodegradable, and approved for use in natural and organic products.
- It protects your skin from harmful microbes without the use of harsh synthetic chemicals.

I’ve also made it easy to stay stocked with eco-friendly refill pouches, so you can reuse your original bottle again and again!

How to Use Chlorine Cleanse: Before and after swimming in a chlorinated pool, simply spray Chlorine Cleanse generously onto your skin and hair. This will help neutralize the chlorine and reduce its harmful effects on your body.

I recommend applying it as frequently as you do sunscreen. So, before you get in the pool, after a couple of hours, and after you get out!

In addition to this neutralizing spray, I highly recommend using a high quality lotion to help replenish the moisture in the skin + for to further support the body you can use homeopathy and cell salts. For specific symptoms you can use sulphur , and for ongoing detox support from chemicals (like chlorine) you can use Kali Mur Cell Salts (6x)

Just a mom-created formula that respects your skin, your routine, and your values.

While chlorine is necessary for maintaining clean and safe swimming pools, it can have negative effects on our skin, hair, and overall health. Thankfully, a simple Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) spray can help counteract these issues. So next time you hit the pool, be sure to pack your Chlorine Cleanse.