Am I allergic to chlorine?

Question

I put on a newly washed T-shirt and swimming trunks. When I got in the pool, I noticed I was very itchy behind the knees. When I got out, there were red bumps all over my stomach, from my shoulder to above the elbows, on my chest, on my thighs, and there were thick ones behind my knees. I noticed that the bumps were only where I was wearing clothing (shirt and trunks). This has never happend to me before. I went swimming a few weeks ago, but no bumps. No one else who went in the pool had bumps. They went away completly after about 45 minutes. Am I allergic to chlorine?

Answer 1

Could be...but you might also have had a reaction to the soap or fabric softener in your clothes that only effected you when the clothes were wet. Try using soap and softeners for sensitive skin.

Answer 2

It sounds like a combination to me. Chlorine might just be the culprit, however, they might have also added chemicals to the pool before you entered it. The sun, and the friction against your skin also, added to the harsh chemicals that they have to use in the pool to keep bacteria down.
Many foods are high in Histamines, which can cause different reactions, and I don't recommend over doing any drugs, but Dyphenhydramine (Benedryl) will kick-butt., on the welts, and get you to a safe point.
Clorox, Tide, it is all an irritant.
Free Willy...
Even if you drank wine the night before, it has Sulfites, naturally occuring (grapes), and they also add sulfites. That can also cause a problem if you are sensitive. Also if you ate shellfish, same same, possibly.
. Oatmeal in the tub can relieve the welts also. (Throw some in an old sock and tie a knot, or use a rubber-band.. (Or, Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal). If you like to spend money and less mess.
Yep....Remember also, fabric that is not natural, such as Cotton, Silk, Rayon, etc., can cause the energy field of the body to get disrupted. Interesting...That happened to me 33 yrs. ago. I do remember the discomfort.

Answer 3

Because they went away so quickly it sounds like hives which is a reaction to many different things, My husband gets them in reaction to the cold, An old friend used to get them if a girl kissed him, no kidding! Hives are interesting they are bright red different size bumps or welts if a lot are together and they go away in about 45 min. From what I understand they are very distressing itchy,painful.... sorry you have experienced this of course it could have been an imbalance of the pool chemicals or an allergic reaction to chlorine... I don't want to be a know it all, ask your doctor. Hope the rest of your summer is good anyway.

Answer 4

That happened to me once and I've never had problems with chlorine before. I think maybe they had too much chlorine in the pool, might be the same case for you.

Answer 5

actually it's more than likely something else that is used in pools, such as DE or the acid they use. If it is a commercial pool, more than likely, its caused by the de and acid.

the water we drink has chlorine in it, so that would not be the issue.

the other possible reaction is from maybe using a different laundry soap.

Answer 6

Possibly sensitive skin. It might have been a chemical reaction between the soap residue and the chlorine, especially if no one else was affected.

Remember, Chlorine is a poison!

Answer 7

sounds like you may be allergic to it. A friend of mine had to immediately shower after swimming in a pool due to chlorine and she was fine after the shower. maybe they had too much in it too.

Answer 8

nah dude that sounds like something else if you previously have gone swimming in chlorine and no side effects than your probably not allergic ask yor physician

Answer 9

very few are but you may be one that is.could be too much cl2 in the water to cause your problem

Answer 10

I guess i would talk to your doctor.