Swimming in Dubai: A Year-Round Activity With Year-Round Risks
Dubai's climate means swimming pools are in use twelve months a year. Whether it is a villa pool, apartment complex facility, hotel pool, or water park, residents and their children spend significant time in chlorinated water. While swimming is excellent exercise, prolonged or frequent pool exposure brings specific health risks that are amplified by the UAE's heat and humidity.
At Al Das Medical Clinic, we treat pool-related complaints throughout the year — with a notable increase between April and October when pool use peaks. The most common presentations are ear infections, skin irritation, and gastrointestinal illness from accidentally swallowed pool water.
Swimmer's Ear (Otitis Externa)
Swimmer's ear is the single most common pool-related complaint we see, particularly in children aged 4 to 12 who spend hours in the water during school holidays.
What happens: Water becomes trapped in the ear canal after swimming. In Dubai's warm, humid climate, this moisture creates an ideal environment for bacteria (most commonly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) to multiply. The protective earwax layer is softened and disrupted, leaving the skin of the ear canal vulnerable to infection.
Symptoms develop in stages:
| Stage | Symptoms | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | Itching in the ear canal, slight redness, mild discomfort when pulling the ear | First 1–2 days |
| Moderate | Increasing pain, more extensive redness, fluid discharge, muffled hearing | Days 2–4 |
| Severe | Intense pain radiating to face/neck, complete blockage, swollen lymph nodes, fever | Days 4+ if untreated |
Treatment at Al Das:
- Ear canal cleaning and inspection
- Prescription antibiotic/antifungal ear drops (typically ciprofloxacin with dexamethasone)
- Pain management guidance
- Advice on keeping the ear dry during recovery (typically 7–10 days)
Prevention:
- Tilt the head to each side after swimming to drain water
- Use a towel to gently dry the outer ear
- Consider custom-fitted swimming earplugs for children prone to recurrent infections
- Apply a few drops of a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol after swimming (restores the ear canal's acidic pH)
- Never insert cotton buds — they push wax deeper and damage the protective lining
Chlorine-Related Skin Reactions
Chlorine is essential for pool hygiene, but it is also an irritant. What many people describe as a "chlorine allergy" is actually irritant contact dermatitis — a chemical irritation rather than a true immune-mediated allergy.
Common presentations:
- Red, itchy skin — particularly in areas where swimwear traps chlorinated water against the skin
- Dry, flaky patches — especially on the face, underarms, and inner thighs
- Hives (urticaria) — raised, itchy welts that appear within minutes to hours of pool exposure
- Eye irritation — redness, stinging, and watering (chloramines, not chlorine itself, are usually responsible)
- Respiratory irritation — coughing or wheezing in indoor pools with poor ventilation
Who is most affected:
- Children with eczema or atopic dermatitis
- People with naturally dry or sensitive skin
- Those who swim daily or for extended periods
- People exposed to over-chlorinated pools (common in smaller villa pools without professional maintenance)