Should I shower before going to the beach?

For decades, public health authorities have recommended the pre-swim shower. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges people to shower with soap before swimming as part of Three Steps for All Swimmers to Protect Against Recreational Water Illnesses.



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Showering after swimming in a natural waterbody will help reduce your risk of contracting infections and rashes. This is because showering with warm water and soap immediately after recreational water activities helps remove bacteria from your skin's surface and your hair.

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Post-Beach Skincare Your goal is to replenish the moisture lost while you were frolicking in the sunshine. First, cleanse skin really well, especially if your sunscreen has zinc oxide, which tends to stick to your skin in order to protect it, says Dr. Laughlin. Time to rejuvenate.

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Plus, it's exfoliating. Jones noted that the salt in ocean water can exfoliate skin, too. It can “get rid of the rough skin that builds up over time, removes those dead skin cells and then gives you this fresh, new skin underneath,” Jones said. This will leave you with brighter and smoother skin, added Garshick.

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If swimmers don't shower before their dip, then it can increase the risk of waterborne illnesses such as diarrhoea, swimmer's ear and skin infections. Chlorine does help disinfect bacteria to protect swimmers, but it's not instantaneous…so get in that shower!

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