Rinse the chlorine off with fresh water as soon as you and the kids are out of the pool. Then a thin layer of unscented balm goes on patted, still damp skin. That's the whole ritual.
The jar I'd reach for is Bare Silk Unscented ($34 as of October 5, 2026), with no essential oils or fragrance.
What does pool chlorine do to skin?
The CDC says chlorine's in pool water to stop germs from spreading. When it meets the sweat and dirt that wash off swimmers, it forms irritants called chloramines, which can cause skin irritation and rashes.
The chlorine itself matters too. Seki and colleagues' 2003 study began with an observation: some people with atopic dermatitis get dry skin from frequent swims in public pools. The team soaked forearms for 10 minutes in 40 °C (104 °F) water. In 20 patients, the skin held water less well at chlorine levels of 0.5 mg/L and up, while 10 people without the condition showed a drop only at 2.0 mg/L. It's one small study, and a soak isn't a swim, but it's why the rinse comes first.
What is the itch after swimming?
A rinse and a thin layer are for dry, tight skin after a swim. Swimmer's itch isn't the same thing. The CDC traces it to an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites that infected snails release into fresh and salt water, such as lakes and oceans. It says a well-maintained, chlorinated pool carries no risk of it.
A rash or hives that keep coming back after swims belong with your pediatrician or a dermatologist, and so does a child whose skin is eczema-prone. A balm is cosmetic care for dry, tight skin. Your provider's plan comes first. We make the balm I'm about to recommend.
Why does the balm go on after the swim?
Rinse with fresh water, then pat dry, since the American Academy of Dermatology says rubbing can irritate extremely dry skin. It wants moisturizer on skin that's still damp. A pea covers a face, and arms and legs take a little more.
Before the swim, skip it. A pre-swim balm washes off in the water, and no study I could find shows it protects skin from chlorine. That's why we don't sell the jar as a barrier against pool water.
Bare Silk Unscented is the household jar. It's the one I'd hand any swimmer in the family, and our posts on baby skin and Bare Silk for babies cover the littlest ones.
The jar for this job is Bare Silk Unscented ($34). Subscribe to two jars and a third rides free, and every subscription takes 25% off the first delivery.
Questions we hear
Should you shower after swimming in a chlorinated pool?
Yes. Rinse with fresh water as soon as you're out, then pat skin dry and press a thin layer of unscented balm onto it while it's still damp. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that rubbing can irritate extremely dry skin.
Can you put tallow balm on before swimming?
We'd skip it. A balm washes off in the pool, and no study we could find shows a pre-swim layer protects skin from chlorine. The CDC wants a one-minute rinse before swimmers get in the water. Save the balm for after.
Is swimmer's itch caused by the chlorine in a swimming pool?
No. The CDC traces swimmer's itch to an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites that infected snails release into fresh and salt water. A well-maintained, chlorinated pool carries no risk of it, the agency says. If the itching's severe, the CDC points you to your health care provider, and a balm isn't the tool for it.
Why does my child's skin itch after the pool?
Chlorinated water can leave skin dry, and in a 2003 soak study by Seki and colleagues, atopic skin held water less well at chlorine levels where other skin didn't show a significant drop. The CDC also links chloramines, which form when chlorine meets sweat and dirt, to skin irritation and rashes.
Go deeper
The beef tallow for skin guide is where I'd start. How to use a tallow balm walks through the pea, and outdoor pools still need sunscreen, which tallow and SPF explains. Tallow balm in summer heat and humidity has the thin-layer rule for the hot months. Bug balms vs DEET is the other summer question, with the CDC list of what works.
Sources
- Seki T and colleagues (2003). Free residual chlorine in bathing water reduces the water-holding capacity of the stratum corneum in atopic skin. Journal of Dermatology 30(3):196 to 202.
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025). Preventing eye irritation from pool chemicals, last reviewed May 28, 2025. CDC Healthy Swimming.
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). About swimmer's itch. CDC.
- American Academy of Dermatology Association (2026). Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin, last updated January 2, 2026. AAD.
Aspen is the co-founder of Craft Tallow and runs the wear tests: every recipe goes on her skin and the family's for weeks before it gets a label. Questions? Reply to any email from us; it lands with one of us.