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Saltwater pools offer the best of both worlds—combining the feel of the ocean with the comforts of a salt bath at home. You’ll get a great workout while swimming, minus the risks of ocean wildlife like sharks and jellyfish. Plus, there are numerous health benefits that can rejuvenate both your body and mind.
From being more affordable and simpler to maintain to offering health and beauty perks, saltwater pools have a lot to offer. If you're still not sure, let experts explain why switching could be a great decision for your well-being.
1. Supports Respiratory Health
Breathing in fine salt particles helps clear your airways by thinning mucus, according to the American Lung Association. This can lead to better breathing and may also help alleviate allergy symptoms. Halotherapy, a treatment involving saltwater or inhaling salt particles via halogenerators, has long been recommended by spa owners and alternative medicine practitioners to treat respiratory conditions.
2. Softer on Your Skin and Eyes
If traditional pools leave you with irritated, red eyes or uncomfortable hives, switching to saltwater might be the solution. Instead of relying on harsh chemicals, saltwater generates small amounts of chlorine naturally, acting as a gentler disinfectant that's easier on your skin and eyes.
3. Provides Gentle Skin Exfoliation
Finding a mild exfoliant for sensitive skin can be tough, but saltwater offers a natural solution. Its exfoliating properties can help various skin types, including those dealing with conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and acne, by gently removing dead skin cells.
"Saltwater naturally draws out impurities and toxins," explains dermatologist Rhonda Klein, MD, MPH, FAAD. "The sulfur in saltwater has a keratolytic effect—it softens the skin, helps remove dead cells, and prevents clogged pores."
4. Helps Maintain Your Skin's Natural Moisture
As dermatologist Dr. Deanne Mraz, MD, FAAD explains, minerals found in saltwater like magnesium and potassium can help regulate oil production and strengthen the skin's barrier, promoting moisture retention. "The cleansing effects open up pores and remove impurities, allowing your skin to absorb the moisture from subsequent treatments more effectively."
5. Eases Muscle and Joint Discomfort
If you’ve ever used Epsom salt baths or bath bombs, you’ve probably experienced how effective saltwater is for muscle relief. Tom Casey of Anthony & Sylvan Pools points out that bromine in salt is key to its pain-relieving effects, which "...can assist people with arthritis or injuries by alleviating muscle and joint pain and soreness."
6. Alleviates Stress and Anxiety
Saltwater is not only beneficial for your physical body, but also for your mental well-being, which is why saltwater therapy is so widely used to reduce stress and anxiety. Research has shown that the calming and detoxifying properties of saltwater can help induce a sense of tranquility and relaxation.
7. Reduced Operating Costs and Easier Maintenance
Though installing a saltwater pool system typically comes with a higher upfront cost compared to a traditional chlorine system, it pays off over time with lower maintenance expenses. Chlorinated pools require regular additions of chlorine tablets or granules, whereas a saltwater system simply needs one or two bags of salt each season.
8. Banishes the Chlorine Odor
The sharp scent of chlorine from a traditional pool is often overwhelming, but saltwater pools don't have that issue. The pungent chlorine odor, especially in indoor pools, is caused by chloramines. The CDC explains that when chloramines evaporate from the water into the air, they can cause irritation to your skin, eyes, and respiratory system (including the nose).
In contrast, saltwater pools don't produce that unpleasant smell, and they don't cause the same drying or hair-lightening effects associated with chlorinated water. Your swimsuit won’t lose its color either.
9. Environmental Benefits
Saltwater pools are not only great for your health but also kinder to the environment. They use significantly less chlorine, and when the water evaporates, the remaining residue is far less harmful to the surroundings compared to the chemicals found in traditional chlorinated pools.
