I love my showers — jumping in after a stressful, hectic evening or enjoying one after a long, restful eight hours of sleep. I do. But I haven’t been indulging in them carefree anymore, and it’s becoming a problem. My skin feels dry and itchy right after. I tend to break out. I promise it’s not the temperature of the water anymore. I’ve dialed it down. These things haven’t happened before. When I consulted a friend, they informed me that my society’s supply of water is possibly the culprit. Hard water.
How did I not think of that? I did some digging and reached out to Dr Madhuri Agarwal, Founder and Medical Director of Yavana Skin Aesthetics to tell me what this type of water does to the skin and how to protect my skin from it. Read on.
What is hard water?
Hard water is water that contains high amounts of magnesium, silica, and calcium. The presence of these salts in the water can affect your skin as well as your hair; leaving a residue on them after.
What are its effects on the skin?
Hard water strips the skin of its natural oils and moisturisers; disturbing the skin barrier and causing dryness and itchiness. It doesn’t allow soap to be washed off completely and leaves behind soap build-up on the skin. This can clog your pores leading to acne and irritate your skin. You might experience rashes, eczema, and psoriasis too.
What are some ways to protect the hair from it?
- Use a clarifying shampoo every couple of days. This will help remove any build-up from the scalp that might’ve been causing a blockage in the follicles. Do speak to a dermatologist for recommendations.
- Opt for a good conditioner to soften the hair strands post rinsing them with water that contains harmful salts. Ensure you’re applying the conditioner on the ends of the hair only. This will help avoid unwarranted side effects like dandruff and itchiness.
- You can even use distilled water to wash your hair; bottled or filtered water are great substitutes.
- Take 1 or 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice and add it to a bucket of warm water (warm, hard water). Use this to rinse off your hair. This allows the shampoo to be rinsed off more easily.
- Install a water softener to filter out all those salts.
So, yes, you can’t completely get rid of it but you can co-exist.
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