How does hard water affect skin?
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free skin care · Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:58 pm

I know that hard water can wreak havoc on hair, and I'm thinking it can't be good for skin either. Anyone know something about this ? I'm looking for something to blame my skin problems on Laughing

I'm kidding! Just wondering...

free skin care · Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:48 am

I have to admit that I’ve never really given this much thought because I’ve almost always had to deal with hard water in the places that I’ve lived. In fact, when I’d go visit somewhere and that place actually had soft water, it would really bug the hell out of me in the shower because it would always feel like I was never able to completely rinse my hair or my skin clean. I know that the opposite is true and that one is more likely to leave soap/shampoo residue when using hard water, but that didn’t stop me from standing under the shower’s spray for countless extra minutes as I rubbed in vain at my skin and hair because it felt too “slippery,” therefore I just *knew* I hadn’t yet rinsed all the product away.....

Anyway, the past couple weeks I’ve been researching a new facial cleanser to try since I was almost out of my Decleor Cleansing Gel and Yonka Nettoyant Gel and one of the “candidates” I was considering was Carita’s Purifying Cleansing Foam because I was intrigued with one of the claims on the product info page here on EDS because I’d never seen any similar claims and/or hadn’t even considered that this should be a possible concern:

Description: Purifying cleansing foam is formulated for oily to combination skin. Enriched with a yucca extract this foaming cleanser deeply cleans the skin and eliminates excess sebum. Made of vegetable soap, it turns into a rich lather when applied onto wet skin. It will leave your skin feeling pleasantly fresh and pure, as well as perfectly clean. It also neutralizes the effects of hard water.

Action: Cleanses and eliminates impurities. Provides a refreshing sensation and neutralises the effects of lime scale. Protects the skin from the first cleansing gesture.

For the record, I finally decided upon Decleor’s Foaming Cleanser, if anyone actually cares! I got it yesterday and used it for the first time last night, then again this morning, so I’ll be posting a review shortly....

free skin care · Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:11 pm

Hmm, very interesting Carekate! Thanks a lot for your response Smile

I'm familiar with that slippery sensation you mentioned, feels weird right? I do the same thing - rinse for a longer time.

Never heard of a claim like Caritas' either. Sounds like a must-try. I'm ready to place an EDS order so I'll request a sample if they have it available. The mention of lime scale has only intrigued me more because when I moved into my current home there were lime stains in the bath tub. It was such a nightmare trying to get rid of them. Mad

free skin care · Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:38 pm

I had hard water for 2 years. It totally ruined my hair -- I had to cut so much off, it was very traumatizing. I did not notice any effect on my skin at all.

free skin care · Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:56 pm

That bad, huh? Sorry to hear that chimera. Its good though that your skin was spared. Perhaps hair is more vulnerable because it is dead tissue and therefore cannot bounce back from environmental stress.

free skin care · Sat Jul 30, 2005 1:33 am

when I was in China, after your clothes are washed in hard water and dried.. they are stiff as a board.. Mad

free skin care · Sun Jul 31, 2005 12:14 am

Hard water in Japan...Man, it dries your skin out also. I have hard water at our new location. I have dry skin but hard water makes my skin really dry.

My 19 year old upstairs neighbor has beautiful, unblemished skin moved here to hard water and it did a number on her skin. She now uses only bottled water for her face. I wondered she said in the States she used the tap.

free skin care · Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:05 am

miranets and queenbluebee, thanks for the info Smile

When I was living in Asia my line dried clothes felt abrasive on my skin.

I did a quick search on the net and found that hard water contained relatively large amounts of calcium and magnesium. If one uses soap with hard water it does not rinse off completely. Soap is alkaline and our skin naturally has an protective acid mantle. Its possible that mantle is disturbed, making skin more vulnerable. Haven't found any studies yet with conclusive results.

free skin care · Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:50 am

Hi Crazyskin

Jon Barron goes into the negative effects of hard water on the general health and I think the skin at some length in his free online book

http://www.jonbarron.org/ebook.html

I remember him talking about the absorption of chemicals into the skin and if you must shower in hard water, be quick and never use hot water because this raises the absorption levels.

free skin care · Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:18 pm

Hiya Molly, thanks a lot for the link! Smile

I'll check it out.

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