Is Your Water Damaging Your Skin?
Summer is here and it’s time to visit the beach, go swimming, and drive with the top down! We all love to spend time outdoors enjoying San Diego’s great weather, but unfortunately, hot weather, sun, sweat, and saltwater can also wreak havoc on your skin and hair.
Hot weather increases water loss from the body, leading to dehydration. This can cause your skin to feel dry and irritated. Remember to moisturize your skin and drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
While the sun helps your body manufacture Vitamin D, the sun’s ultraviolet light can cause major damage to the skin, leading to lost elasticity, dryness, and premature aging. Remember your SPF!
At the beach? Water can mean double-trouble for skin, bouncing UV rays onto your skin twice, so keep lathering on the sunscreen.
Not outside? Summer’s heat means that when we go inside, we crank up the air conditioner. A/C absorbs moisture in the air, substituting it with cool, dry air. And, voila, your skin takes another hit. If you spend a lot of time indoors, you may notice dry, itchy skin.
The bigger culprit: Hard water
Summer weather can damage your skin unless you protect it. But, if you live in San Diego, there is another daily problem that many of us don’t think about.
San Diego made the list of “15 Cities That Are Tough on Skin” in an article by Everyday Health, not because of its warm, sunny weather, but because of its hard water. This is a problem for your skin, not only in summer but year-round. According to the article, hard water contains minerals that dry on the skin and can clog pores and cause flaking and itching.
The difference between hard and soft water
San Diego’s water is generally rated as “extremely” hard. Hard water is filled with excessive sediments, typically calcium, magnesium and iron. This hardness is largely due to groundwater that flows over or through limestone.
Soft water has little to no extra calcium and magnesium. Soft water can occur naturally, and hard water can be turned into soft water using a water softener.
How a water softener benefits your skin
Hard water makes soap less effective and leaves behind a residue on the skin. This residue can make your skin feel dry and itchy. Soap lathers better in soft water and washes away easier. Also, minerals in hard water cause your skin to lose moisture leading to more dryness and itchiness.
When your skin becomes dry, it increases oil production to make up for it, which can lead to breakouts. Soft water doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils.
All the above applies to your hair as well. Shampoo build-up can leave your hair dull and hard to style. Keep in mind that minerals in hard water make color fade faster, too.
But there’s more…
Besides being damaging to your skin, the sediments in hard water can also corrode your plumbing pipes and cause scale build-up over time which can cause costly repairs. Hard water also leaves hard-to-remove scum in tubs and showers making them hard to clean.
The solution: Water softening system
Thankfully, there is a solution to the problem of hard water – and that is a water softener system.
You may have heard about water softeners that attach directly to showerheads and faucets. These point-of-use water softeners are widely available, but only conditions water at one point. And, according to Water Filter Magazine, they may not work at all.
Arnett’s Water Systems specializes in installing whole-house water softeners so that you can enjoy soft water no matter where you turn it on. Whole-house water softeners work simultaneously throughout the home and have been proven to reduce the number of minerals and sediments in your home’s tap water. A whole-house water softener is an investment that benefits your entire home by preserving plumbing systems, your appliances and your skin!
Trust our experienced team
Arnett’s Water Systems has been in business for over 25 years, and over the last 15 years, we’ve shifted our focus to be directly on water heaters and water treatment. We are here to help you get cleaner, safer, and softer water! The Naiad water softeners we install will make a significant difference in your daily life. They can be installed nearly anywhere and are available in all shapes and sizes.
Contact us today at (619) 223-1209 to learn more about the benefits of soft water and to discuss your water system needs. Experience the difference with better water.