It's a great decision to encourage your daughter to take up swimming. Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise, as it provides the body with both cardio as well as strength training. Swimming helps improve the functioning of the lungs as well, enabling it to breathe fully by utilizing the oxygen provided to it to the fullest. However it is not swimming alone that has caused the change in skin color, but the combination of chlorinated water as well the over exposure to the sun while swimming, in case of an open air pool.
Melanin is produced by the skin, as a defense mechanism, in order to protect itself from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Therefore when the skin is over exposed to the harmful rays of the sun, it increases the supply of melanin to the areas affected most. Since melanin is a brown pigment, the increase causes the skin to appear darker in color. This could be one of the major reasons as to why your daughter's skin has become darker than her natural skin complexion.
The other reason for the darkening of your daughter's skin could be, due to the presence of excess chlorine in the swimming pool water. Chlorine is known to rob the skin of its natural moisture and also oxidizes the skin leading to its discoloration.
However, skin darkening can be solved easily by following these few preventive measures, followed by a skin regeneration regime.
Preventive Measures:
- Always make sure that your daughter's skin is well protected when she enters the pool. This could be achieved by applying a water proof sun screen lotion with an SPF value of 30 or above. The sun screen lotion will not only protect her from the harmful rays of the sun, but will also prove effective against the chlorine present in the water.
- You could protect her skin further by encouraging her to wear a wetsuit, thus minimizing the direct contact of her skin with water. Wetsuits cover the body entirely and thus protect it considerably from getting oxidized due to the presence of chlorine.
Skin Regeneration Regime:
- Ensure your daughter has washed her body thoroughly using a mild soap when she gets out of the pool.
- Apply a good moisturizer, as water is known to rob the body of its moisture content. This is one of the major reasons that one feels sticky when they come out of a swimming pool or when at a beach.
- Since your daughter is only 7 years old her skin will come back to its natural color if you follow the above steps regularly. However you could speed up the process by performing an exfoliation process. You must be gentle while doing so, as your daughter's skin is delicate. Make a paste out of oat meal soaked in cold milk for about half an hour. Add one or two teaspoons of turmeric powder to the paste and apply it evenly to her skin. The turmeric powder will act as an anti bacterial and anti septic agent. The milk will provide the skin with moisture and restore its complexion, while the oat meal would act as a gentle exfoliation medium. Wash the paste off thoroughly after the process has been completed, and apply a baby lotion for better results. Use this remedy for exfoliation no more than twice a week.
answered by c