Is Your Daily Water Damaging Your Skin? Impact of Water Quality on Skin

You have done it all. You invested in great skincare, you follow a routine that is hyper-personalized to your needs. But, have you ever considered the impact of water quality on skin, a factor that is often overlooked, which has the potential to undermine your routine? 

Your Skin Versus Hard Water: What is the Impact?

Hard Water is high in minerals such as calcium and magnesium, while safe to drink, they can also interact with the surfactants in your cleansers, basically creating a residue that does not properly rinse. This residue can result in: 

• Clogging Pores: Which leads to acne and breakouts. 

• Stripping your skin of its natural oils: Which causes dryness, tightness and even flakiness in some cases. 

• Disrupting Your Skin Barriers: Weakens your skin’s defences which can worsen conditions like eczema. 

Other Overlooked Water Contaminants on Your Skin

• Chlorine: Water is frequently disinfected and kept free of dangerous microorganisms using chlorine.  But it's also a strong oxidant that can damage the skin's protective layer by removing its natural oils.  After every shower, your skin may feel tight and painful due to dryness, inflammation, and sensitivity brought on by prolonged exposure.

• Heavy Metals and Pollutants: Particularly for people with sensitive skin, even minute levels of metals and pollutants in water can irritate or inflame the skin.  Your skin may eventually become dry, red, and uncomfortable as a result of this exposure, giving the appearance of dull, uneven skin.

5 Solutions to Tackle Hard Water Effects

• Installing Shower Filters: Installing a shower filter is the most costly solution, but it starts to show improvements right away.  These filters assist preserve the natural equilibrium of your skin by lowering mineral accumulation and removing excess chlorine, offering immediate comfort and relief from dryness or irritation.  After each shower, your skin gradually becomes smoother, softer, and more nourished.
• Using Low-pH Cleanser: Switching to a gentle, cream-based cleanser that is less inclined to react with the minerals in the water and helps maintain the acidic mantle of your skin is a sound alternative, if you don’t use a shower at all. 
• Chelating Agent: Scout for products that contain EDTA, or Phytic Acid,  which bind to minerals and rinse them away.
• Hydrating Toner: Use an alcohol free, hydrating toner that removes residuals and rebalances your skin’s pH levels.
• Moisturize Strategically: Reinforcing your skin barrier with moisturizers that have ceramides and fatty acids can help combat drying effects. 
  

If you are dealing with constant skin issues that are not receptive to your product changes, then your water might be the culprit. Having something as simple as a shower filter and adapting your routine based, can make a significant difference.