Summer is in full swing, and for many, this looks like long pool days. But along with the fun comes a wave of seasonal health warnings, internet rumors and old wives’ tales that can leave anyone feeling overwhelmed.
To help separate fact from poolside fiction, we sat down with Gabriel Neal, MD, clinical professor and department head with the Texas A&M University Naresh K.Vashisht College of Medicine at Texas A&M Health, to break the surface and get deeper than a generic answer. From infections to swimming safety, here is your guide on what happens to our bodies in the water.
Can a quick dip replace a real shower?
After a long day of swimming, it is tempting to skip the bath and head straight to bed. After all, it seems sound after soaking in chlorinated water for hours, right?
Not exactly, Neal said.
That classic “chlorine smell” at the neighborhood pool isn’t pure chlorine; it’s a byproduct of the chemical reacting with organic matter like sweat and urine, according to a study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
“Chlorine is not a soap,” Neal said. “When we shower and bathe, we’re using a soap of some kind to remove dirt and oil off of our skin that provides a place for bacteria to hang out.”
While pool chlorine acts as an excellent disinfectant to create a hostile environment for viruses and bacteria in the fresh water, it does not clean your body. For example, pathogens like Cryptosporidium are tough waterborne parasites that can survive in properly chlorinated water for more than seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Commonly referred to as Crypto, this parasite can be found in any community pool. Onset of the infection can take up to a week, and symptoms like diarrhea can last up to two weeks.
Jumping in a pool might rinse off loose debris, but it’s not a proper substitute for a shower or bath.
Does swimming cause UTIs?
A common worry passed around is that sitting in a damp bathing suit all afternoon will trigger a urinary tract infection (UTI). Fortunately, science does not back this up.
According to Neal, there is no significant evidence that swimming or wearing a wet bathing suit causes UTIs. Rather, in adult women, some of the real culprits for UTIs are sexual intercourse and dehydration.
A recent review in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene noted that scientists are exploring whether contaminated recreational water could play a role in the spread of UTI-causing bacteria. However, no studies have shown that swimming pools are a common cause of UTIs. The better-established concern, according to Neal, is that keeping a wet suit on for prolonged hours does create a warm, moist environment that invites other unpleasant skin and pelvic issues for both men and women, including:
- Folliculitis. This occurs when chlorine and bacteria compromise the skin barrier, trapping moisture and causing hair follicles to become red, inflamed and irritated.
- Yeast infections. Yeast thrives in damp environments. Prolonged wetness increases the risk of vaginal and groin yeast infections, particularly for individuals with higher baseline risks, such as those with diabetes or immunodeficiencies.
It’s great to swim, but when you get out of the water, dry off and put on dry clothes immediately.
Can you swim on your period?
While on the topic of pelvic health, people often wonder if it is safe to swim during a menstrual cycle, or if doing so causes infection risks.
Neal’s answer is short and definitive: It is safe to swim while on your period.
He explained that it won’t risk your health, and choosing to swim while menstruating all comes down to personal comfort. Swimming on your period does not make you more susceptible to any type of pool-related infection.
What is a swimmer’s ear, and how can it be prevented?
Water trapped in a swimsuit is annoying, but water lounging in the ear canal can lead to a notoriously painful condition known medically as otitis externa, or swimmer’s ear.
Neal noted that this is different from the classic middle ear infection (otitis media), which happens behind the eardrum and usually requires oral antibiotics. Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal skin and is usually caused by a pervasive environmental bacteria called pseudomonas.
“It happens when the very thin layer of skin inside the ear canal is wet for a long time,” Neal said. “It compromises the ability of the skin to keep out the bacteria.”
Although anyone who spends a lot of time in the pool can get it, the risk is even higher for those with diabetes or immunodeficiencies. If you want to keep your family out of the clinic this summer, Neal suggested these prevention steps:
- Block the water. Use swim earplugs or a snug swim cap to prevent water from entering the ear.
- Use gravity. Intentionally tilt your head to the side after swimming to let trapped water drain out.
- Evaporate the moisture. Put a couple drops of a one-to-one mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar into the ear after swimming to evaporate any water left behind.
- Put down the Q-tips. Never insert cotton swabs or any objects into the ear canal. This damages the delicate skin lining and drastically increases your risk of infection.
How should sunscreen be applied?
You might have heard whispers that high SPF numbers are just a marketing gimmick, or conversely, that wearing SPF 15 means you can stay out exactly half as long as someone wearing SPF 30.
Neal noted that people frequently misuse the numbers or mistake “water resistant” for “waterproof.” The truth is that reapplication needs to happen regardless of water involvement, and a higher SPF correlates to a stronger filter for ultraviolet light, not longer-lasting protection (for context, a pair of blue jeans has a measured SPF of about 1,000).
To maximize your sun protection, he advised looking for these features:
- Broad-spectrum coverage. Ensure the bottle explicitly states it covers both UVA and UVB rays.
- Stick to SPF 30 or greater. Neal views SPF 30 as the baseline minimum. While protection gains plateau slightly between SPF 50 and 100, anything above 30 offers legitimate protection.
- The one-hour rule. There is a sharp diminishing return on effectiveness over time. Even if a bottle claims to be waterproof, you must reapply your sunscreen according to the directions.
Application pro-tip: Don’t fight over sticks versus sprays. It’s all about coverage preference. Neal loves broad sprays for large areas like the arms, legs and chest. However, because sunblock intensely stings the eyes, he recommends using a stick or lotion for the face. Be meticulous around the nose, ears, lips, eyebrows and forehead, as these highly exposed areas are where skin cancers appear most often, according to the Mayo Clinic. Whenever possible, pair your lotion with a wide-brimmed hat for ultimate protection against harmful sun rays.
Do you really have to wait to swim after applying sunscreen or eating?
We’ve all heard the golden heuristics of the pool: Wait 15 minutes for your sunscreen to dry, and wait 30 minutes after eating before you swim, or you’ll cramp and drown.
Are either of these true?
- The sunscreen wait. Neal said this is true and you should follow the bottle’s instructions. Waiting several minutes gives the product time to bind properly to dry skin. If you apply it to wet skin or jump straight into the water, it simply washes away.
- The food wait. This is pure myth, Neal said. The underlying theory sounds scientific since eating diverts blood flow to your digestive tract and away from your muscles, but Neal confirmed there is absolutely zero evidence that swimming right after a meal increases your risk of cramping then drowning. However, with younger children especially, it is still best practice not to eat in the pool to eliminate choking hazards and prevent food particles from becoming floating debris, according to the American Red Cross.
What is the final word on safety and submersion injury?
Perhaps the most terrifying panic that hits every summer is the narrative around the outdated and false term “dry drowning.” The idea is that a child can accidentally swallow water, appear completely fine, and then tragically pass away in their sleep days later.
“Dry drowning as a term is out of date, and it’s kind of distracting,” Neal said. “We should not propagate the narrative of dry drowning. Drowning is drowning.”
Medical professionals instead refer to these incidents as submersion events. In fact, the Cleveland Clinicofficially uses three specific ways to describe drowning: fatal, nonfatal with injuries and nonfatal without injuries. Drowning is a progressive process where liquid enters the lungs, causing acute inflammation and impairing the body’s ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. If a child aspirates chlorinated pool water, the chlorine triggers an inflammatory response in the lung tissue.
The most important takeaway for parents is that drowning is not silent nor symptomless. Neal explains that a child who has suffered a serious submersion injury will show clear, overt signs of respiratory distress.
If you or a loved one has a scary coughing fit or accidentally inhales water, Neal suggested monitoring them closely for about four to six hours and watching for these symptoms:
- Persistent, severe coughing
- Chest pain
- Visible difficulty breathing or struggling for air
- Profound confusion, abnormal sleepiness or lethargy
- Vomiting
If your child exhibits any of these signs, seek emergency medical attention immediately so professionals can check their oxygen levels and provide airway support.
However, if someone who had a near-drowning experience is acting completely fine, breathing normally, and showing none of the symptoms above during that four- to six-hour window, you can rest easy, Neal said. They aren’t going to suddenly succumb to a hidden injury hours later.
“If they’re fine, then they really are fine,” he said.
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Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) comprises five colleges and schools (dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health), integrated University Health Services, several research centers and institutes, and numerous outpatient clinics with a shared mission of advancing health care for all. We serve the state and beyond with campuses and locations in Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Houston, Round Rock, Kingsville, Corpus Christi, McAllen and Navasota. Learn more at health.tamu.edu or follow @TAMUHealth on X (née Twitter).
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