Can Water Quality Affect Acne?

Do you have a stubborn acne problem that never seems to clear up? The water you are bathing in could be part of the problem.

You aren’t alone in your struggle with acne. It is the most common skin condition in the United States. It affects around 50 million Americans every year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. It seems like pimples always pop up at the worst possible time: right before a job interview or hot date.

Many triggers can cause a breakout, such as hormonal changes and emotional stress. Two triggers that are often overlooked are hard water and chlorinated tap water. Healthline recommends switching to an alternative water source because of how tough tap water can be on your skin.

How Hard Water Affects Your Skin

Washing your face and bathing in hard water can leave you with dry, irritated skin and clogged pores. Hard water is tough on your skin because of the minerals in it. Calcium, magnesium, and iron are the primary minerals that cause water hardness. These minerals don’t interact well with soaps and cleansers. This is why soaps don’t loather well with hard water. Even after you’ve rinsed off, soap scum will be left behind on your skin. It can make your skin feel tacky and dry. It also clogs your pores making your skin prone to blackheads, whiteheads, and acne.

How Chlorinated Water Affects Your Skin

If you have city water, there is a good chance that it contains chlorine. Many municipal water facilities use chlorine to disinfect their water supply. While chlorine may make your water safer to drink, it is tough on your skin and hair. Chlorinated water strips skin and hair of their natural oils. The result can be dry, flaky skin that overproduces oil. When your skin overproduces oil, you are more likely to breakout.

Can Water Treatment Clear Up Your Skin?

Clearer skin is one of the many advantages of a whole home water treatment system. Whole-home water purification systems, like ours, remove chlorine from your water. Your system can be customized to include a water softener if you have hard water.

How to Find Out if Your Tap Water is Causing Acne

Testing your water is the best way to find out if your water is hard or chlorinated. You can purchase an at-home water quality test kit or set up an appointment to have your water tested by professionals. Tri-Florida Water Treatment offers free in-home water analysis for residents throughout Lakeland, FL. If you’d like to know if your water quality is affecting your skin, set up an appointment today! We are Department of Environmental Protection Certified Water Plant Operators.

If you’d like to learn more about the downsides of hard water, check out this blog post. You can learn about the additional benefits of a whole home water treatment system by checking out this blog. Or give us a call to learn more by talking with one of the water quality experts on our team at Tri-Florida Water Treatment.