Irritated Intimate Area After Swimming? How Chlorine, Salt, and Freshwater Affect Your Vaginal Health

Chlorine, seawater, lakes, and summer days – how do they impact your intimate health?

For many, summer means relaxation, sunshine, and swimming. But after a dip in the sea, pool, or lake, many women notice something less pleasant: stinging, itching, irritation, or a sense of imbalance in the intimate area. Could the water be to blame – and if so, which type is the gentlest?

Here, we break down how different water environments can affect your vaginal health – and how you can protect yourself with the right post-swim care.

💧 THE INTIMATE AREA’S DELICATE ECOSYSTEM

The external intimate area (vulva) is covered with thin, moist mucosal tissue that is highly sensitive to external stressors. Inside the vagina, there's a unique microbiome – primarily made up of lactobacilli – that protects against infections, balances pH levels, and keeps the mucous membranes healthy. This balance is easily disrupted, especially when swimming in water that alters pH, introduces foreign bacteria, or dries out the mucosa.

🧪 CHLORINATED WATER – CLEAN, BUT TOUGH ON MICROFLORA

Chlorine is used in pools to kill bacteria – but it also affects the body’s natural bacteria. Studies have shown that chlorine has a drying effect and weakens the skin’s barrier function (Bernard et al., J Dermatol Sci, 2009). This applies even more to the sensitive skin and mucosa of the intimate area.
A Belgian study (Van Gerwen et al., 2016) found that women who regularly swim in chlorinated pools have a higher incidence of vulvovaginal irritation, imbalance, and recurring bacterial vaginosis (BV).


💡 Risk: pH disruption, weakened good bacteria, increased sensitivity

🌊 SALTWATER – NATURAL, BUT DRYING

Seawater may feel clean and refreshing, but its high salt content has a noticeable drying effect on both skin and mucous membranes. This is due to a natural process called osmosis – where moisture from your body is drawn out into the salty surroundings.
In other words: when you swim in the ocean, your cells lose water in an attempt to reach balance.
The result? Skin may feel tight, and vaginal tissue drier or more sensitive after swimming – especially if you sit in the sun or let wet swimwear dry on your body.
A study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology (2011) showed that repeated exposure to saltwater can gradually impair the skin’s protective barrier and reduce its moisture levels.


💡 Risk: Dehydration → increased friction, stinging, or discomfort during movement or sex

🏞 FRESHWATER/LAKES – BIOLOGICALLY RICH, SOMETIMES RISKY

Stagnant freshwater, especially during heatwaves, can contain elevated levels of E. coli, enterococci, and cyanobacteria – microorganisms that can irritate or negatively affect the vaginal microbiome.
According to the European Environment Agency (EEA, 2023), 10–20% of monitored lakes in Europe had elevated bacterial levels at some point during the summer, exceeding recommended limits.


💡 Risk: Infection risk, irritation, worsened imbalance in dry or sensitive mucosa

👙 WHY DRY SWIMWEAR MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK

Changing into dry swimwear after a swim isn’t just a “good idea” – it’s essential for intimate health. When skin is exposed to heat, moisture, and friction for extended periods:


🌸 It creates an ideal environment for yeast and bacteria to thrive


🌸 Oxygen supply to the skin is reduced


🌸 The skin’s barrier function is weakened

A review article in Women’s Health Journal (2018) found that women who wear wet swimwear for several hours have up to double the risk of yeast infections and irritation.

✅ Change into dry underwear or swimwear as soon as possible – especially after lake swims.

HOW TO PREVENT SUMMER IRRITATION IN THE INTIMATE AREA

After swimming:


🌸 Rinse off with clean water


🌸 Gently wash with a mild, pH-balanced intimate cleanser


🌸 Moisturize and soothe as needed

TWO PRODUCTS YOU'LL WANT IN YOUR TRAVEL BAG

V Cleanser Intimate Wash – Gentle Cleansing After Swimming

VagiVital V Cleanser is a mild, nourishing intimate wash with a creamy texture that cleanses effectively without disturbing the natural balance of the intimate area. It’s based on the same clinically proven moisturizing formula as AktivGel, making it especially gentle – even for dry and sensitive mucosa.

The product is 100% soap-free, fragrance-free, and does not need to be rinsed off, making it ideal both in the shower and as a quick refresh after swimming in chlorinated, salt, or freshwater.

✔️ Based on moisturizing AktivGel


✔️ Creamy, soap-free formula


✔️ Maintains pH and microflora


✔️ No rinsing required


✔️ Gentle enough for daily use

Buy V Cleanser here

Intimate Calming Gel – When Your Skin Needs Relief

VagiVital Intimate Calming Gel is a cooling, soothing gel for the external intimate skin, specially developed to relieve discomfort when the skin feels dry, irritated, or tender – for example, after swimming, shaving, workouts, or hot days in tight clothing.

The gel is based on the same clinically proven AktivGel formula that deeply moisturizes and strengthens the skin’s protective barrier. It also contains glycine – a natural amino acid known for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce irritation and support recovery. Gentle yet effective – the gel provides instant relief and is developed with sensitive intimate skin in mind:

✔️ Soothes, cools, and hydrates
✔️ Contains glycine to reduce irritation
✔️ Based on AktivGel with proven moisturizing effect
✔️ Designed for vulva and outer intimate areas
✔️ Free from fragrance, alcohol, and hormones

Buy Calming Gel here

🌞 ENJOY SUMMER SWIMS – WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT FOR YOUR INTIMATE HEALTH

With the right knowledge, dry swimwear, and caring products in your beach bag, you can swim as much as you like – without worrying about irritation or imbalance. Let your summer be as free in your body as it is in your spirit.

Take care & Stay Pussytive ❤

/Fanny Falkman Grinndal
Business Manager Nordics
Peptonic Medical AB
fanny.falkman-grinndal@peptonicmedical.se