The Effects of Hard Water on Your Skin and Hair

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water consists of liquid H2O and an overabundance of dissolved minerals. Some of the minerals in hard water include calcium, magnesium, and small traces of other deposits. 

While hard water poses no serious health risks, it can leave soap scum on your bathroom tiles, bathtub, dishes, clothing, and anything else washed with tap water. Hard water can also harm a person’s skin and hair, especially if that person suffers from sensitive skin.

How Does Hard Water Affect Your Skin?

When the minerals in hard water react to soap during bathtime, it creates a residue that proves challenging to rinse off the skin. This film can lead to clogged pores, which may cause acne, eczema, and other rashes. 

Once a person steps out of the shower or bath, the minerals found in hard water will absorb some of the skin’s moisture, leaving it feeling quite dry. As the minerals dry out your skin, you may notice that your skin starts to flake off and feel itchy. 

How Does Hard Water Affect Your Hair?

Like skin, hair dries out when exposed to the minerals in hard water, leading to hair feeling brittle. It can also make the hair appear less shiny or dull. Over time, the hair’s brittleness can lead to breakage, which can take a long time to resolve.

Short-Term Effects of Hard Water on Skin and Hair

In the short term, hard water can cause skin discomfort. Dry, itchy skin can lead to excessive scratching, which only exacerbates the situation and can result in rashes. Applying lotion may ease the dryness and redness; however, if many minerals remain on the skin, adding lotion may create a goopy buildup that clogs pores.

Hard water can also reduce the natural shine of a person’s hair, leaving it dull and lifeless. Plus, the feel of a person’s hair can become dry and crackly. Over time, an individual whose water supply contains excess calcium and magnesium may experience hair loss in the form of breakage. Finally, individuals who bath in hard water may suffer from an itchy scalp.

Long-Term Effects of Hard Water on Skin and Hair

In the long term, hard water can permanently impact the look and feel of your skin. After several years of exposure to hard water, the loss of natural oils can cause premature wrinkles, loss of collagen, and sagging, inelastic skin. In some cases, the damage proves impossible to reverse without expensive, advanced medical care.

Significant hair damage serves as the primary long-term effect of hard water exposure. The minerals affecting your hair will suck up any natural moisture. Over time, some people seek medical attention due to what they perceive as hair loss. However, in most cases, the hair loss merely results from breakage, and installing a water softener in the home can remedy the issue.

How To Protect Yourself From Hard Water

The simplest way to protect yourself from the effects of hard water on hair and skin involves installing a water softener. However, for some homeowners, this may not serve as a viable option due to budget constraints. As you save up for the ultimate solution to hard water, below are some of our tips regarding protecting yourself from hard water.

Dry Yourself Gently

After you step out of the shower, dry yourself gently by dabbing yourself with a towel. You need to retain as much moisture on your skin, so try to avoid drying yourself too aggressively.

Use Soap-Free Body Washes

Most of the problems caused by hard water involve its interaction with soap. Find a soap-free body wash to eliminate the soap scum that would otherwise remain on your skin.

Apply an Intensive Care Lotion

Try using an extra rich moisturizer that can lock in your natural oils so your skin doesn’t dry out. However, if you experience blocked pores, consider trying a different brand. You may need to try several different lotions before you find the perfect solution.

Use Fragrance-Free Hair Care Products

Many of the hair care products containing added fragrances also include other chemicals that can accelerate the loss of natural oils. Try a fragrance-free product and see if your hair feels softer and looks shinier than it usually does.

Apply Leave-In Conditioners

Offer your dry scalp a little relief by applying a leave-in conditioner. Leave-in conditioners provide a deep, long-lasting moisturizing solution that can reverse some of the symptoms caused by hard water. 

Water Softeners in Richmond Hill, Ontario

At Plumbs Up Plumbing & Drains, we regularly encounter hard water because most residents call upon us as a trusted plumber in Richmond Hill and the surrounding areas. Typically, we recommend installing a water softening system to remove the calcium, magnesium, and other minerals found in hard water.

Water softeners help homeowners avoid the adverse effects of hard water, eliminating the need to treat dry, itchy skin and brittle hair after the fact. Water softeners boost the overall comfort level in a home by leaving everyone’s skin soft and supple. Soft water also leads to a much more luxurious bathing experience that our customers notice right away.

If your home suffers from hard water, call the water softening experts at Plumbs Up Plumbing & Drains by dialling (289) 203-9369 and experience the difference that soft water can make!