Effects of Hard Water on Your Skin

Some people who take a shower with hard water notice that their skin and hair don't feel as clean as they should. This is because the minerals in the water interact with the soap and shampoo and actually form something like a cheesy scum that lingers on skin and hair. If the bather doesn't manage to wash off that soap scum, it will simply lay on the skin and clog the pores. This leads to breakouts and skin that is dry and flaky.

 

Not only this, but even if soap isn't used, the calcium in hard water can actually draw moisture out of the skin and lead to more problems, even eczema. People who already suffer from skin conditions such as dermatitis may find that hard water makes their problem even worse.

 

Some people resort to whole house water softeners that remove the minerals and replace them with sodium. Reverse osmosis filters take out even more impurities such as some heavy metals. But a person doesn't really have to spend a lot of money to save her skin from the ravages of hard water. Usually, all it takes is a few changes in her daily skin care routine. All that needs to be done in most cases is apply a mild cleanser, rinse, and then apply a moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated.

 

People who are worried about hard water can also avail themselves of esthetician care. These professionals can teach their clients how to cleanse their skin without water, with distilled water that washes away any soap residue and even with chelators, which keep heavy metals from penetrating the skin.