Winter is well underway and many people across Maryland are dealing with dry skin. The weather alone is enough to dry out skin with the cold temperatures. It might be hard to believe at first, but water tends to evaporate from your skin more quickly during the winter. That’s because of low humidity levels.

And if you have hard water in your shower, your skin could quickly start to itch, crack, and peel. While you might be shelling out a lot of money for expensive moisturizers, lotions, and creams, a better solution could be a water softener.

Hard water contains excessive amounts of calcium, magnesium, and other contaminants. These contaminants, in turn, can irritate and dry out your skin, leaving your skin feeling dehydrated and itchy all year round.

During the winter, your skin is already at increased risk of drying out. You may think that a shower would help moisturize your skin, but if the water is hard, the opposite will happen: your skin will dry out more quickly.

Why Does Hard Water Dry Out My Skin?

One of the main reasons hard water causes skin irritation is because it makes it more difficult to wash away soap residue. Instead of being washed away, the soap residue sticks to your skin, drawing out moisture and clogging up pores.

The calcium and magnesium directly draw out moisture as well and negatively affect the natural moisturizing oils found on your skin. Further, these minerals may also upset the pH balance of your skin, leading to other issues.

Hard water can even affect your hair, making it more brittle and more likely to fall out.

Is My Water Hard?

Most likely. It’s estimated that 85 percent of Americans have hard water at home. The United States was formed largely out of ancient seabeds, and as a result, limestone deposits are common. As rain and ground water flow over limestone, calcium and magnesium are leached into the water.

You can keep an eye out for hard water by watching for scaling in your sink, shower, or tub. If your soap isn’t sudsing, that could be because of hard water as well.

Can Chlorine Cause Itchy Skin Too?

Yes! Over-chlorinated water can irritate your skin. Chlorine is a highly toxic substance, which is why it is frequently used in cleaners and as disinfectants. Bacteria are especially sensitive to chlorine, which is why this chemical is added to our water. By killing off bacteria, chlorine makes our water safer to drink.

Unfortunately, the chlorine remains in our drinking and shower water. When we come into contact with chlorine, it can act as an irritant, damaging our skin cells and beneficial bacteria cells. This can cause your skin to dry out. In fact, that “squeaky clean” feeling is actually soap that doesn’t quite rinse off and is clogging your pores.

A water filtration system is the most effective way to remove excess chlorine from your water, making it more gentle to your skin and healthier for consumption.

So What’s the Solution to Hard Water and Chlorine?

Hard water can be treated with a water softening system. The science is rather complex, but salt ions and specially designed matrices can be used to draw the calcium and magnesium out of your water. With an effective water softener, like the Hague WaterMax BEQ, mineral levels can be dramatically reduced.

Exceptionally fine filtration systems like the Hague WaterMax BEQ can also be used to filter out chlorine, reducing chlorine levels.

Contact Hague Quality Water of Maryland today to have your water tested for harmful contaminants and excess minerals to ensure you and your family have hydrated skin all year long.