Your Water Supply and Acne

Everyday, a countless number of people wake up to find that they are suffering from yet another acne breakout. What's puzzling is that these same people take good care of their skin. They cleanse it two times a day, apply topical acne medication, sunscreen, and finally a moisturizer. The hidden culprit that eludes most is their home's water supply. Water makes contact with your skin on a daily basis. Hence, there is little question that it may be contributing to your breakouts.

Water type is divided into two categories: hard water and soft water. The first refers to water that has a significant mineral contact. Minerals including Calcium are prevalent in such water. Soft water, on the other hand, has negligible mineral content. The minerals are instead replaced with higher concentrations of sodium.

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER

Water that is overly enriched with minerals presents a number of damaging effects to the skin and other surfaces which it comes into contact with. When hard water combines with soap, it forms soap scum. What it should do is form a lather as to cleanse the skin. This soap scum remains on the skin and consequently irritates it. If your home receives hard water, you should see soap scum on your bathroom fixtures and in and around the shower area.

Soft water combines with soap to form a lather that ultimately cleanses your skin. Those who have grown up with it's mineral-rich may complain of a "slippery" feeling after cleansing their skin. Soft water removes the soap scum buildup on your skin - the one that the hard water was supposed to remove.

There are some who refuse to believe that soft water is a more efficient solvent than hard water. Perhaps we can explore how well both types of water function in different applications. In dishwashers, for instance, hard water tends to etch the dishes. This can be extremely frustrating, especially after investing hundreds of dollars towards a new set. Soft water does not cause this etching effect as it effectively cleans the detergent off the dishes.

You can take some immediate, non-drastic steps to reduce the negative effects of hard water. First, replace your shower fixtures on a regular basis. Mineral buildup within these fixtures may be further increasing the hardness of the water. It is also advisable to avoid taking hot showers unless necessary. The steam will open your pores and allow the minerals within the hard water to seep within. This will cause breakouts.

A more expensive solution involves installing a water softener within your home. It can be a big investment, however you will benefit in a multitude of ways. If you find that the aforementioned tips improve the appearance of your skin, hard water may be aggravating your skin. A water filtration device can not only soften your water, but remove additives such as Chlorine. Chlorine can be extremely aggravating to the skin, and will indeed cause acne. It strips oils off your face, which ultimately irritates it. Again, this is a significant investment so all the factors need to be considered carefully.

Your Water Supply and Acne

INSTALLING A WATER SOFTENER