Swimming pools and skin problems

I wonder if the oxidising chemicals in swimming pools can exacerbate the formation of skin lesions in older and more susceptible people? Lots of my friends at aquarobics have had various small skin cancers other suspicious-looking lesions removed from their skin. Of course we are all at the age when most lesions show up, but is the pool water causing more lesions than we might have experienced otherwise? Most of us attend aquarobics for 2 hours each week and some have home swimming pools as well.

My skin is no gauge, however, since it is that pale European shade that goes with red and sandy blonde hair. It is very susceptible to skin cancers, plus I had multiple bad sunburns as a child and even as an adult. I have only had 2 tiny skin cancers frozen off with nitrogen, one on a forearm and the other next to my nose near my eye.

When I visited a dermatologist after nearly going insane with itchy growths on my scalp he found a suspicious lump near the back of my neck. The head lumps were not even worth investigating! But the back one made him exclaim "I think we have a cancer here!" That gave me the heeby jeebies as I had no idea it was there; so the doc ordered a biopsy and I had to wait two weeks for that appointment.

It occurred to me that anti-oxidants might be good for curing, or at least shrinking, a rough, dry skin patch so I slathered the spot with rosehip oil every day until the biopsy. Please don't treat yourself before seeing a doctor! I certainly don't. I always ask my GP about any "suss" new moles or rough patches and she usually has an answer. When in doubt she sends me straight to the dermatologist.


Meanwhile the biopsy was done and the result was negative! The dermatologist was quite surprised and I was very relieved. Probably the growth was not malignant in the first place, but it was certainly benign when the sample was punched out! Now I routinely apply rosehip oil to any strange, rough or extra-dry spots on my skin and have had no further skin cancer diagnoses.

Yesterday I came across this article which seems well-written and seems quite relevant for people with concerns about pool chemicals. And I am NOT a person who has worries about our lives being ruined by "all those chemicals" that are everywhere these days.

The chemical reactions taking place in your swimming pool

Dear readers, please look up your own references as I have a pile of 37 drafts for blog posts that I haven't put up because I was worried about references!

Article from c & en. Chemical and engineering news. Published by the American Chemical Society. Permission to re-publish sought.


This is the published standard for maintaining pools and spas in South Australia:

http://satic.com.au/images/uploads/documents/6592_SAH_Pool_Standard_Jun13.pdf


All sensible comments welcome.