Is Hard Water Destroying Your Skin?
Do you sometimes feel that no matter what you do for your skin - cleanse regularly, exfoliate, moisturize, etc. - your skin simply doesn't look its best? This could be for a reason that might have never occurred to you before. If like 85% of American households your home has hard water that could be the reason your skin never looking or feeling its best.
What is hard water? According to About plumbing expert Aaron Stickley hard water is:
In the home hard water can cause plumbing problems, can wear down appliances and fixtures, and can make cleaning products less effective. Just like hard water causes problems in your home it can cause lots of issues with your skin.
The high mineral content of water makes it difficult for soaps to lather properly instead a soapy layer is left behind on the skin or a film that cannot be washed off. Not only that but the minerals in the water also stay on your skin instead of being rinsed away. All of this can lead to dry skin, irritated skin, or trigger such skin problems like eczema or psoriasis. People with sensitive skin can find hard water to be particularly harmful to their skin. Lastly, the impurities in hard water when left on skin can act as free radicals and cause collagen breakdown aging your skin.More »
While some people might experience extra dry skin from hard water other people will find that using dry water on their face triggers acne breakouts. Why is this the case? The impurities or minerals in the water interacts both with the oils in your skin and the moisturizers you apply to your face. In the case of the oils in your skin the minerals in the water that are left on your face after rinsing your face with hard water change the consistency of the oil from a liquid to a wax which in turn can clog your pores. When oil sits in your pores instead of leaving it you can start to have breakouts. Even if you use moisturizers that will not clog your pores (noncomdegenic) when that moisturizer comes into contact with the impurities that are left on your skin from hard water those oil-like substances do indeed start clogging your pores. So if you are acne prone each time you rinse your face with hard water you are actually doing a lot more harm than good to your skin. More »
How do you stop hard water from hurting your skin? Luckily there are a few different ways to help your skin:
What is hard water? According to About plumbing expert Aaron Stickley hard water is:
Water that contains high mineral content is considered to be hard water. As rain water flows from the surface into aquifers it absorbs mineral like calcium, manganese, and magnesium carbonate and it changes from soft to hard water.
The amount of mineral content that water contains determines the hardness level of the water. Although the mineral content of household potable water is usually not harmful it can be problematic and undesirable.
Water hardness is most often measured in grains of mineral per gallon (GPG). Water that tests at 3.5 GPG or above is considered hard water.
In the home hard water can cause plumbing problems, can wear down appliances and fixtures, and can make cleaning products less effective. Just like hard water causes problems in your home it can cause lots of issues with your skin.
Hard Water Can Cause Dry, Irritated Skin
The high mineral content of water makes it difficult for soaps to lather properly instead a soapy layer is left behind on the skin or a film that cannot be washed off. Not only that but the minerals in the water also stay on your skin instead of being rinsed away. All of this can lead to dry skin, irritated skin, or trigger such skin problems like eczema or psoriasis. People with sensitive skin can find hard water to be particularly harmful to their skin. Lastly, the impurities in hard water when left on skin can act as free radicals and cause collagen breakdown aging your skin.More »
Hard Water Can Cause Acne
While some people might experience extra dry skin from hard water other people will find that using dry water on their face triggers acne breakouts. Why is this the case? The impurities or minerals in the water interacts both with the oils in your skin and the moisturizers you apply to your face. In the case of the oils in your skin the minerals in the water that are left on your face after rinsing your face with hard water change the consistency of the oil from a liquid to a wax which in turn can clog your pores. When oil sits in your pores instead of leaving it you can start to have breakouts. Even if you use moisturizers that will not clog your pores (noncomdegenic) when that moisturizer comes into contact with the impurities that are left on your skin from hard water those oil-like substances do indeed start clogging your pores. So if you are acne prone each time you rinse your face with hard water you are actually doing a lot more harm than good to your skin. More »
Solutions To Stop Hard Water and Heal Your Skin
How do you stop hard water from hurting your skin? Luckily there are a few different ways to help your skin:
- Install a water softner system in your home. This is an effective solution to this problem. You can also look into installing a filter in your shower or faucet.
- If you can't install a water softener system or a filter after washing your face use a gentle, soothing toner in order to remove impurities that are left on the skin. Avoid toners with alcohol in them unless you have very oily skin.
- Wash your face with bottled water. Though this might help some people's skin it is, of course, wasteful and not environmentally sound. This could be a good short-term solution for skin woes while on vacation.
- Change your skin care products - use skin care products that do not need water. For instance cleanse with a micellar water instead of a traditional cleanser. Or only use gentle skin care products. There are even skin care products that will neutralize the hard metals left on your face from hard water.
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