How Does Tap Water Affect Skin?

We use water every day in our daily routines, from washing our hair to cleansing our faces and bodies. However, the water which comes out of your tap can make just as much of a difference to your skin as the products you use with it. If you find yourself suffering with dryness, irritation or acne and nothing you use seems to make much of a difference, it’s possible that the culprit is your water.

Is Tap Water Bad for Skin?

Generally, the tap water provided to your home is hard water, which can be damaging to the skin. This is because it’s packed with dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron, alongside chemicals such as fluoride and chlorine. They strip moisture from the skin, which can cause it to become dry and irritated. Not only that, these impurities can form free radicals which damage healthy skin cells and break down collagen. This results in premature skin ageing, fine lines and wrinkles.

Due to the concentration of contaminants in tap water, it becomes harder to create a lather with your products. It also makes it more difficult to wash them away afterwards. In turn, this creates a build-up on the skin, clogging pores, which can both cause acne or aggravate skin conditions.

How to Avoid Tap Water Skin Damage:

As we mentioned earlier, water coming from the tap is usually hard water, which causes damage. However, there are steps you can take to avoid this damage to your skin, maintaining your skin’s health.

Use A Filter

Getting a water filter for your showers and taps will allow you to receive more purified water. This is because it filters out heavy metals and impurities, only releasing the water for you to access. Alternatively, you could get a water softener which is designed to reduce the mineral content present, providing you with less damaging water.

Boil Tap Water

If you don’t want to get a filter, there is another way you can remove impurities from your water. By boiling your tap water before storing it in the fridge, it will make it purer by killing bacteria. You can then use it when you like to wash your face.

Switch to Cleansing Waters

When washing your face, you could switch to using micellar cleansing water instead of tap water. This will still effectively cleanse your skin but includes added skin benefits to help maintain a healthy complexion.