How hard water can affect your skin

Hard water. You've probably heard of it before, or it might even be flowing through pipes wherever you are right now. Caused by the buildup of metals, including calcium and magnesium, hard water not only affects many parts of the US and other countries, but your skin as well. I wonder how? Keep reading. 

Basics (literally)

The main difference between hard water and plain old H2O comes down to pH - that's potential hydrogen for those of us who need a quick brush up on chemistry lessons. The pH scale ranges from 0 (the most acidic of substances) to 14 (the most alkaline or basic). Our skin has an optimal pH of 5.5—slightly acidic for our acid mantle to function properly (read: retain moisture and not break out). Hard water is on the alkaline side of the scale with a pH above 8.5. So what does this mean for your skin? Well, since the pH balance of the skin should lean towards the slightly acidic side, overly alkaline hard water can dry it out.

Skin care word "C"

Along with the basic pH and metal accumulation in hard water, and sometimes in ordinary water flowing from a non-alkaline faucet, another substance is often found - chlorine. Yes, you read it right. The same chemical we add to our pools is often added to the water to keep bacteria out. Water Research Center reports that there are several other methods used to kill pathogens, but chlorination is the most common method. Combine the drying effect of hard water with the same drying effect of chlorine and your shower or overnight facial cleansing can wreak havoc on your skin.

What to do with hard water?

Before you reach for pH strips, or worse, For Sale signs, know that there are steps you can take to neutralize things. According to the USDA, vitamin C can help neutralize chlorinated water, which can make tap water less harsh on your skin. To quickly remedy the situation, you can purchase a shower filter containing vitamin C or install a shower head with vitamin C. Don't know much about plumbing? you also can access to detergents and other skin care products that have a slightly acidic pH close to your skin's pH!