Not particularly, according to Professor Carsten Flohr, chair in dermatology and population health science at King’s College London. “A sea swim can temporarily reshape the skin microbiome, but it doesn’t simply ‘wash all the good bacteria off,” he says. “Think of it as a short-lived disturbance to a microbial ecosystem.” Our skin microbiome is part of our defence against the outside world. During a swim, waves, rubbing and immersion remove some surface microbes, oils and sweat while introducing microorganisms. Salt can also draw water from the outer layer of skin, leaving some swimmers dry, tight or irritated.
