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Are you ready to say goodbye to dry, flaky skin? Are you fed up with the constant battle against acne and eczema?
If so, then brace yourself, because it’s time to uncover the enemy within: hard water. It’s lurking in your shower, faucets, and even in your laundry, wreaking havoc on your skin.
But fear not, because we’re here to arm you with the knowledge you need to wage war against the damaging effects of hard water on skin and claim victory over your skin once and for all.
Hard Water Vs Soft Water
Soft and hard water is two types of water with different mineral compositions.
Water hardness is a measurement of the amount of calcium and magnesium in water. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) uses the symbol “H” to indicate water hardness. The scale ranges from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).
There’s a lot of debate surrounding the benefits of soft water in comparison to hard water. Most dermatologists agree, however, that soft water is better for your skin. This is because it’s gentler on your skin and can leave a mineral residue behind if you don’t thoroughly rinse it off.
Hard Water
Hard water is water that contains a high amount of minerals and salts. It is commonly found in places with a lot of rainfall and snowfall, such as the West Coast of the United States and Canada.
Hard water is often more difficult to clean with because you need more soap or detergent than you would with soft water. This means that you use more energy to heat your water heater, which can be costly!
Soft Water
Soft water has fewer minerals than hard water, making it easier to wash your clothes and clean your dishes. It also leaves less soap scum behind in the shower or bathtub.
Soft water is better for your skin because it reduces dryness and irritation. For example, if you have eczema or psoriasis (a skin condition), using soft water might help clear it up or prevent flare-ups from occurring.
How Hard Water Is Affecting Your Skin
A study from the University of Massachusetts Medical School found that people with hard water had more problems with their skin than those with soft water
The most common effects of hard water on skin are dry skin and eczema. These conditions are caused by the minerals in your water because they strip moisture from your skin’s surface and reduce its ability to retain moisture.
This causes your skin to get dry faster than normal, which leads to cracking and flaking. You may also notice that your hands crack open or bleed when you wash them, especially if you have eczema on them or dry hands from frequent handwashing.
Long-Term Effects Of Hard Water On Skin
Hard water can cause the skin to feel itchy or dry
This is because hard water contains more minerals, which can create a more drying environment on your skin. While the effects are temporary and may not be noticeable, if you experience any skin-related problems after showering in hard water, it’s best to check with your doctor.
If your skin feels especially dry after bathing in hard water, try using a moisturizing soap or body wash and switching to softer water whenever possible.
If this doesn’t help enough (or if you don’t want to wait for the effect of softening up), consult a dermatologist, who may recommend prescription-strength lotions or ointments as a way of alleviating symptoms caused by hard water exposure.
Hard water can lead to skin allergies
Skin allergies can occur due to exposure to hard water. The most common skin allergies are eczema and dermatitis, which are conditions that cause inflammation of the skin and lead to itching, redness, and swelling of the affected area.
While you may be able to treat these conditions successfully with over-the-counter products or prescription medications, you must find out what caused your symptoms to avoid future flare-ups.
If you’ve notice redness or irritation on your face or other sensitive parts of your body (such as inside your mouth), you may want to consider whether there’s an environmental factor at play before deciding if treatment for such symptoms is necessary.
Hard Water May Damage hair
Hard water is an important factor in the health of your hair. If you have hard water and use it to wash your hair, then you’re likely to experience several negative effects.
Some of these include dryness, brittleness, and dullness. Your hair may also break more easily due to the minerals in hard water that can weaken its structure.
Finally, hard water can leave your hair looking dull and feeling rough-feeling or dry on account of all those minerals leaching out into it!
Short-Term Effects Of Hard Water On Skin
Hard water is a problem for many people. While it can be beneficial, it can also have negative effects on the skin and hair. Here are a few short-term effects of hard water and how you can avoid them or treat them if they occur.
Acne
Acne is a common skin condition that results in pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. One of the effects of hard water on skin is acne.
Hard water contains minerals that can clog pores and make them more difficult to clean. The result? A higher than usual chance of breakouts because the blocked pores build up bacteria more easily than unclogged ones do.
People who have acne-prone skin may find their symptoms improve after switching to soft water for a few months or years depending on how much time it takes for their bodies to adjust to the change in mineral content.
Blemishes
Blemishes are small red spots on the skin. They can be painful and itchy, and they usually occur where your skin is most exposed: the face, neck, and chest. Blemishes can also be caused by bacteria, dirt, or sweat trapped under dead skin cells that clog up pores.
Hard water is not only bad for hair; it’s also bad for your complexion! If you have blemishes or acne on your face due to hard water, use an anti-blemish cream with salicylic acid (a popular ingredient in many over-the-counter products).
This will help clear up any existing blemishes while preventing new ones from forming in the future as well as controlling oil production which is often associated with breakout problems
Rash
Rashes! One of the most irritating side effects of hard water on skin.
The minerals in hard water can cause the skin to become itchy, dry, and irritated. If these symptoms persist for more than 10 days or if they are accompanied by redness or irritation, you should see your doctor or dermatologist as soon as possible.
Softening your water will help prevent rashes associated with hard water use by removing the minerals that irritate the skin and cause rashes to form.
How To Reverse The Effects Of Hard Water On Skin?
While it’s tempting to jump in the shower and wash your face, you might not realize that hard water may be affecting your skin—and not always in a good way.
If you have hard water at home, your skin may feel dry or tight after cleansing and be more prone to dryness, redness, and irritation.
But don’t sweat it—there are ways to combat the effects of hard water so that you can enjoy clear skin.
Use Gentle, Sulfate-Free Cleansers
Sulfates are a common ingredient in cleansers, and they’re often added to hard water. Sulfates can be harsh on the skin and strip it of moisture, leading to dryness or irritation. Many bar soaps contain sulfates — this is why they lather up so much when you rub them against your skin!
If you have hard water at home, your cleanser is likely dealing with higher levels of these chemicals than it would otherwise. So using a gentle cleanser will help protect your skin from damage caused by both hard water and harsher ingredients found in some face washes and body washes.
Avoid Harsh Skin Treatments
Avoid harsh skin treatments to mitigate the effects of hard water on skin.
Harsh skin treatments double the dangers and effects of hard water on skin. Hence, it can worsen the problems of dryness, redness, or irritation.
Instead of using a traditional face wash, switch over to an exfoliating washcloth once or twice a week. This will help remove dead cells while hydrating your skin at the same time.
Consider A Water Filter Or Softener
You could consider a water softener, which is a device that uses salt to remove calcium and magnesium deposits in your pipes. This will make your water less abrasive and thus less likely to cause dryness or irritation on the skin. Water softeners can be expensive though, so they may not be a good option for everyone.
If you’re using a water filter on tap, then there are some things you should keep in mind when choosing one: if it’s not effective enough, it might just be wasting money; if it is too effective, then you may need more filters than normal as well as regular maintenance for them.
Don’t Forget To Wash And Exfoliate Your Hands
You can’t get the most out of your skincare routine if you only take care of your face. Your hands are the hardest working part of your body, so they’re important to keep healthy as well.
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water every time you wash your face, but also every once in a while, on their own (like after cooking or cleaning). Exfoliate regularly by using a scrub or just washing with baking soda—it helps remove dead skin cells that dull skin’s appearance, which will make it look healthier overall!
Moisturize hands nightly before bedtime so that they don’t dry out over time (and keep a moisturizer in an easy-to-access place, like on the bathroom counter).
Create A Routine That Works For You
To start, you should wash your face with warm water. Next, use a gentle cleanser to remove all makeup and dirt from the day. Follow that up with a moisturizer that is not too heavy for your skin type. Avoid harsh scrubs and exfoliants; they can leave your skin feeling dry and irritated.
If you want to exfoliate, try an oil-based cleanser rather than cream or lotion because it will penetrate deep into pores without irritating them too much. Finally, never forget to use sunscreen—it’s one of the most important things you can do for your skin!
Closing Thoughts
Effects of hard water on skin leads to dryness, irritation, and even eczema. It’s a frustrating and often overlooked issue, but the good news is that there are solutions available.
By installing a water softener or using products specifically designed for hard water, we can combat these negative effects and ensure that our skin stays healthy and hydrated.
It’s essential to be aware of the water we’re using and take steps to protect ourselves and our skin.
Don’t let hard water control the health of your skin, take control and make a change.
