Depending on where you live in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware, your home may have hard water. Hard water is full of minerals that, while hardly dangerous, can aggravate your hair and skin (and cause plumbing problems down the line). Improving your home’s water with a water softener can neutralize these effects and leave you with clearer skin and healthier hair. Learn more about how softening your hard water can make a major difference.
The Mineral Composition of Hard Water: Why It Causes Hair and Skin Issues
Every region has a slightly different mineral makeup in its hard water. Your municipal system will have water with varying concentrations of calcium and magnesium carbonates due to exposure to limestone, chalk, and gypsum, and even moderate traces of calcium and magnesium minerals in the water can create a residue on the surface of your skin and hair that strips away natural oils. That same buildup can make it harder for soaps and shampoos to both reach your skin and hair and fully rinse away.
Comparing Hard Water and Soft Water
Water softeners work by ion exchange. As a result, soft water will cause much less buildup and residue, making it much less likely to affect your skin and hair. Additional water treatment systems can further condition the water, removing trace elements, pathogens, and other material from the water.
The Effects of Hard Water on Skin and Hair
While hard water causes one main problem for skin and hair—that pesky residue—it can cause a wide range of effects and irritations. If you notice any of these problems, your home may have harder water than you think:
1. Dries Out Skin and Hair
The minerals in hard water strip away the natural oils that protect your skin and hair from moisture loss. These oils help with hydration, and once they’re gone, your skin can feel dry and irritated. Your hair will also be more prone to splitting and damage. Unfortunately, worrying over your skin and hair with new hydrating soaps and conditions can make you wash away even more natural oils in the water.
2. Contributes to Product Buildup
The mineral residue itself can build up, making your skin and hair feel filmy and dirty. The residue can also chemically react with soaps and detergents to create a layer of hard-to-remove soap scum on your scalp. Styling products won’t work as well in your hair, so you might find yourself using more to get your typical results—causing more and more buildup. A clarifying shampoo can help reset the clock, but it can’t fix the hard water.
3. Makes Hair More Difficult to Style
Don’t forget the effects of hard water on hair! Your hair products won’t work right when they have to fight against mineral residue. Your hair can also start to become brittle and rough, making it more difficult to style, heat-treat, and shape.
4. Can Worsen Acne-Prone Skin
Hard water is harsh, and it can trigger breakouts and acne. There are three main reasons for this: the minerals irritate sensitive skin, they dry out the skin and remove protective oils, and the buildup can clog your pores. All of this adds up to bursts of acne and raw skin.
5. Reduces the Efficiency of Some Personal Care Products
Your soaps, hair styling products, and skincare products have to fight against the mineral residue when you have tough water. As a result, you’ll either start to see diminished results or have to use more product to get the same look that you’re used to. While it may seem small at first, the cost can add up fast.
How to Manage Hard Water
The most effective way to manage hard water is with water treatment. Depending on your needs, you might install a whole-house system, which protects every faucet and length of pipe from hard water minerals.
Discover Water Softening Solutions With Suburban Water Technology, Inc. DBA Shore Water Refining
The effects of hard water on skin and hair are just one consequence of untreated hard water. Suburban Water Technology DBA Shore Water Refining specializes in water softening solutions for residential, commercial, and multi-family properties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about the mineral makeup of your home’s water, what solutions may work best, and how to make sure your water supports healthy skin and hair.
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