Is Hard Water affecting Skin?

Do you live in an area with hard water? Could this be the cause of your skin constantly acting up? Have you ever considered this..

What is hard water?

It’s water that is high in mineral compounds, largely calcium and magnesium.

How do you tell of you have hard water?

• Soap not lathering sufficiently, your clothes feeling rough to the touch, a build-up of limescale on your taps and a sort of "film" on shower doors or bathtubs

How does hard water affect the skin?

• by upsetting the delicate skin barrier, and depleting skin moisture
• because it prevents soap from fully dissolving, it leaves behind a residue on the skin
• by contributing to sensitive, irritable and blemish-prone skin
• potentially exacerbating existing conditions, such as acne, eczema, dermatitis and rashes
• hair breakage, shedding, excessive tangling, losing its color and not looking as shiny as before

How best do we combat the effects:

• showers should be kept short and tepid, not hot
• avoid sulphates, make use of sulphate-free body wash and shampoos and don’t use large volumes
• invest in a water softening system or filter shower head 
• try double cleansing with an oil or micellar water first
• use hair deep conditioning masks
• blotting the skin gently after you get out of the shower rather than vigorously drying
• rehydration is the key: apply a generous layer of a ceramide-enriched moisturising cream to the body, whilst skin is damp, to seal in moisture