Swimming with any break in the skin, from a small scrape to a deep laceration, introduces a conflict between wound care and pool safety. An open wound is any injury that has compromised the skin’s barrier, such as cuts, abrasions, or torn blisters. While a small, superficial scratch poses minimal risk, the general safety advice is to avoid submerging any open wound in pool water until the skin barrier has been restored. This precaution protects your health and maintains water quality for other swimmers.
Why Open Wounds and Pool Water Don’t Mix
Direct exposure to pool water presents two primary risks to a healing wound: chemical irritation and bacterial infection. Even properly maintained pools, which use chlorine to disinfect the water, are not sterile environments and can still harbor opportunistic pathogens. Submerging a wound exposes the vulnerable underlying tissue to these elements, which can compromise the natural healing process.
Chlorine, while designed to sanitize, can irritate broken skin, causing discomfort or inflammation. When chlorine reacts with organic compounds like sweat, urine, or saliva, it forms chemical byproducts called chloramines. These chloramines are irritants that slow down natural tissue repair mechanisms, potentially leading to prolonged healing or increased scarring.
More concerning is the risk of microbial infection, even in water that appears clean. Opportunistic pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa can survive in chlorinated water and may enter the bloodstream or deeper tissues through an open wound. Infections caused by these bacteria can range from mild skin rashes to serious deep-tissue infections, especially if the water is not maintained to optimal standards. Furthermore, swelling that occurs when skin is exposed to water can impair wound closure, facilitating the entry of bacteria.
Contamination Hazards Posed by Wounds
When a person with an open wound enters a pool, the risk shifts from personal health to public health. Even a small amount of blood or other bodily fluid from a wound introduces organic matter that immediately reacts with the pool’s disinfectant. This reaction consumes the free chlorine available in the water, which reduces the pool’s overall capacity to kill germs.
This reduction in free chlorine creates a less sanitary environment for everyone else using the pool. A wound can also introduce bacteria that are naturally present on the skin, such as various species of Staphylococcus, into the water. While chlorine is meant to kill these pathogens, the sudden introduction of a high bacterial load can overwhelm the sanitation system, potentially exposing other swimmers to infectious agents.
For these public health reasons, most commercial and public pool facilities have strict rules prohibiting entry for anyone with an open or draining wound. These policies ensure that the pool’s chemical balance remains effective and that the water quality is consistently safe for all patrons.
When Swimming is Absolutely Forbidden
Certain types of wounds present a risk too high to justify swimming, regardless of pool cleanliness or waterproof coverings. Any wound that has required stitches, staples, or surgical closure must not be submerged in water. Exposing a sutured wound to water can compromise the integrity of the closing material and significantly increase the chance of a serious, deep-tissue infection.
Similarly, any large, deep laceration or extensive abrasion that cannot be reliably covered by a standard waterproof bandage should be kept out of the water. The deeper the injury, the greater the potential for harmful bacteria to bypass the body’s initial defenses and cause complications. Wounds that are actively bleeding or heavily draining are particularly dangerous to both the swimmer and the pool’s water quality.
Swimming is also strictly contraindicated if the wound shows any signs of an existing infection, such as increased redness, swelling, warmth, pain, or the presence of pus. Submerging an already-infected wound can drive the existing bacteria deeper into the tissue or allow the infection to spread. In these cases, the focus must be on keeping the area clean and dry, and seeking medical attention.
Protecting Minor Wounds for Swimming
For very minor injuries, such as a paper cut, a small scrape, or a blister that has just broken, swimming may be possible with proper precautions. The goal is to create a complete, airtight seal that prevents any water contact with the injury. This protection is only acceptable for superficial wounds that are not actively draining and are small enough to be fully covered.
Specialized waterproof dressings and bandages are the preferred method for creating this seal. These products are made with a flexible film and a strong adhesive designed to hold securely when submerged. It is important to choose a bandage size that extends well beyond all edges of the wound to ensure a reliable barrier against water and contaminants.
For tiny cuts, a liquid bandage may be used to form a temporary, protective, waterproof film over the wound. After swimming, the protective covering must be removed immediately. The wound should then be cleaned thoroughly with fresh water and mild soap. Following this cleaning, apply a fresh, sterile, non-waterproof dressing to promote air exposure and optimal healing.