Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Does Hard Water Cause Breakouts?

By Linda Clopek

The search for an accessible and effective acne cure has turned up little prospects. While new technology has aided in the development of improved treatments, millions continue to suffer at the hands of this skin disorder. The dermatological community agrees that a number of factors influence the development of acne. Unsuspecting products such as shampoos and toothpastes have been linked to acne. In searching of less-than-obvious causes of acne, few have mentioned water. Water is a substance most of use to cleanse our faces prior to applying topical acne treatments. It also comes into regular contact with our skin during bathing. If your acne has been completely unresponsive to over-the-counter and prescription treatments, the problem may be your home's water quality.

Water can be classified into two broad categories: hard water and soft water. Hard water is mineral-enriched water that reaches most American homes. Hard water is responsible for a number of household nuisances, including hard water deposits around bathroom and kitchen fixtures. It is preferred over soft water as it is less corrosive and requires no expensive treatments such as distillation. Hard water obtains its mineral-rich nature from minerals found in the ground. It is often primarily composed of Calcium and Magnesium ions.

Soft water contains only negligible amount of minerals. It is available in a certain regions in the United States, and is unfavorable for its corrosive nature. The process through which hard water becomes soft water is known as distillation. The hard water is boiled, and the pure vapor is collected. Although a seemingly simple process, distillation can be an expensive process to implement.

Hard water is unfortunately incompatible for skin care use. We rely on water to combine with soap and form a lather. This lather allows us to properly cleanse our skin. However, hard water makes it difficult for this lather to materialize. Soap manufacturers have gone as far as adding questionable additives to soap to help it lather, despite the large mineral presence in water. Hard water combines with soap to form soap scum. This scum attaches itself to anything imaginable, including shower doors, bathroom fixtures, and our skin. The soap scum creates a layer atop our skin that causes irritation and subsequently aggravates acne.

There are a number of routes you can take to reduce the harmful effects of hard water. You can have a water softening system installed in your home for a comprehensive solution. However, this can be substantial investment. More affordable options include replacing shower fixtures regularly, as to prevent further water contamination from deposit buildup, and taking cold showers as opposed to hot ones. Your pores become enlarged from hot steam, which leaves them more susceptible to becoming clogged with soap scum as well as minerals from the hard water. Using soft bottled water (such as distilled water) in your skin care regimen is also an option. A spray bottle may come handy if you decide to go this route.

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