Water hardness can impact your hair and skin in several ways. Minerals like iron and limestone react with soaps to create a film or residue on your body and leave a dulling effect.
This residue also disrupts the skin barrier, exacerbating conditions like eczema and psoriasis. To reduce this impact, use gentle cleansers and body washes formulated without sulfates (like Pure & Gentle) optimized for conditioned water.
Dryness
When water makes its way through the ground and through your pipes, it picks up metals and minerals, like calcium and magnesium, along the way. This is what makes hard water. While it is not unsafe to drink, it can wreak havoc on your appliances and skin and hair health.
The high mineral content in hard water creates a reaction with soaps and shampoo, creating a precipitate known as soap scum. This residue can clog pores and dry out your skin. Over time, it can also disrupt the protective barrier of your skin, causing irritation and exacerbating conditions like dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.
As a result, many people suffer from itchy, dry, flaky skin that feels irritated and raw after showering. This is because of the high levels of soap scum that is left behind on the skin, and also because the mineral content in hard water strips away natural oils from the skin.
Your hands are especially vulnerable to the drying effects of hard water because they are in contact with the mineral-rich water most often. When you wash your hands with hard water, the soap scum and minerals can stick to your skin and make it difficult to rinse. The resulting dryness and itchy feeling can last long after you have finished washing your hands.
Using moisturizers and other products to combat the effects of hard water is a good short-term solution, but if you want long-term results, a water softener may be the answer. With soft water, the minerals do not react with the soaps and shampoos as they do with hard water, so soap scum is significantly reduced. Moisturizing creams and other products can then penetrate the skin more effectively, delivering moisture deep into your pores to keep it hydrated and healthy.
Water softening systems can eliminate the negative effects of hard water and restore your skin’s radiance and shine. It is important to avoid hot showers, as these can further dry out your skin and hair, and you should use only mild cleansers formulated with all-natural ingredients that are optimized for conditioned water.
Irritation
Have you ever gotten out of the shower or bathtub and noticed that your skin and hair felt gritty, even after rinsing? This feeling is due to the calcium and magnesium minerals found in hard water. These minerals leave a film behind on your skin and scalp, which can clog pores, leaving you with dry and irritated skin and hair.
This effect can be exacerbated for those with pre-existing skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis. Hard water can also make these conditions worse by removing the natural oils that protect your skin from irritation, leading to increased flare-ups.
In addition, the hardness of your water can affect your hair and scalp as well, causing them to become dry and dull. Hard water also makes it more difficult for your shampoos and conditioners to penetrate the hair shaft, leading to a decrease in volume and shine.
The mineral buildup from hard water can also irritate and damage your skin care products, such as cleansers or moisturizers. Many people try to combat these effects by using more expensive, higher quality shampoos, conditioners and other skincare products that can help counteract the negative impact of hard water. However, this only covers the symptoms and doesn’t address the underlying cause.
Water softeners can remove these harmful minerals from your water, leaving you with softer and healthier hair and skin. If you’re interested in reducing the impact of hard water on your beauty regimen, talk to your local plumber about installing a water softening system in your home.
While hard water doesn’t pose any health risks, it can cause a variety of issues that can be frustrating and inconvenient for those who want soft and healthy hair and skin. For anyone seeking improved water quality, Afina offers an excellent solution, ensuring a refreshing and purified shower experience every time.
If your hair and skin aren’t shiny, lustrous and full of life after washing them with hard water, it’s because of mineral build-up. As water travels through the ground and rocks, it collects dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. This creates “hard water” that, while not harmful to drink, can wreak havoc on skin and hair if used over time.
When you wash with hard water, the minerals in the water react with soap to form a scummy residue that can leave your hands and hair feeling dull and dirty. Soap scum clogs pores and prevents the natural oils that your body produces from reaching and working their magic. In turn, this can lead to breakouts and exacerbate skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
The mineral deposits from hard water can also clog your scalp, causing your hair to look greasy and dull. This also blocks the skin’s natural oils, preventing them from doing their job of lubricating and holding in moisture. When these essential oils aren’t able to reach your skin, your skin becomes dry and itchy and flaky.
Many people find that they are using more products to combat the effects of hard water, causing their expenses to skyrocket. To combat this, try switching to a more natural skin and hair care routine that uses less products and focuses on moisturizing the skin and scalp instead of cleansing it. Additionally, try avoiding hot showers and opting for cooler water temperatures that are more gentle on your skin and hair.
Another great way to reduce the negative effects of hard water on your skin and hair is to invest in a water softening system. Water softening systems remove the dissolved minerals from your water, resulting in softer hair and skin that is healthier and shinier. Alternatively, you can use hair and skin products that are specifically formulated for hard water, as they contain ingredients that help counteract the negative effects of mineral build-up. Regularly rinsing your hair and skin with distilled water can also help to get rid of any unwanted build-up.
Acne
The minerals in hard water don’t just dry out the skin, they can also irritate it, which leads to breakouts and exacerbates conditions like eczema or psoriasis. If you have sensitive skin and notice itchiness or a red rash right after showering, there’s a good chance your home’s water is hard.
When soap comes into contact with the minerals in hard water, it doesn’t dissolve properly and leaves behind a thin film that inhibits proper rinsing. This residue dries out the skin and interferes with the ability of moisturizers to penetrate and hydrate it. It’s also been linked to itchy scalp and dandruff.
Over time, these residues can cause damage to the skin barrier, causing it to become weaker. This can lead to a loss of moisture and a dull appearance, as well as clogged pores which may cause acne and aggravate skin conditions like eczema or chronic dandruff.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate the negative effects of hard water on your skin and hair health. Try switching to gentle cleansers that are less likely to react with the minerals in hard water, and be sure to rinse thoroughly so no residue remains. You can also invest in a water softener for your home, which will help to remove these mineral deposits before they reach your skin and hair. The result is healthier, softer skin and hair with a more radiant glow. And with the right lifestyle changes, you can reap the benefits all year round!
