Read Full Article HereBoard-Certified Dermatologist Dr. Eliana Zamora of U.S. Dermatology Partners Cedar Park explains how hard water affects your body and what products may help.
Does your skin feel dry or irritated? Does your hair have buildup or feel brittle? It could be your water.
Central Texas has pockets of hard water and very hard water, according to WaterHardness.org, which uses the most recent water quality reports from water utilities such as Austin Water and data from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Kyle has the hardest water of any Central Texas city, followed by Round Rock, Hutto, Cedar Park, Leander, Georgetown, Taylor and Liberty Hill. The rest of the area has moderately hard water. The Austin area is nothing compared to Johnson City and Fredericksburg, which have water that is more than five times as hard as any of the cities in Travis, Williamson, Bastrop or Hays counties.
Water in Central Texas and areas to the west, south and north is filtered through a shelf of limestone. That limestone is made of calcium carbonate, which gives water its “hardness” along with magnesium. Hardness means the water has more of these minerals than other water sources. It does not make the water less safe to drink.\
What does hard water do to skin?
When hard water mixes with the soap or body wash you use, it leaves a residue. That can make your skin drier and feel tighter, said Dr. Eliana Zamora of U.S. Dermatology Partners in Georgetown and Cedar Park. For people with skin conditions such as eczema, it can aggravate those conditions.
What does hard water do to hair?
The minerals build up on the hair shaft and scalp. They can make hair feel rough or look dull. Hard water also can make hair drier, more tangled and harder to manage, Zamora said. Hard water also can cause inflammation of the scalp and worsen problems such as dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, a chronic condition similar to eczema.
How can you treat skin affected by hard water?
Zamora recommends people take 10-minute showers and avoid very hot water. You also do not need to use soap everywhere. Focus on the stinky areas such as armpits and the groin. People should pat their skin dry and then apply a cream-based moisturizer (in a tub) rather than a lotion. If they use topical eczema medication, they should apply that before the moisturizer. Moisturizer should be used daily and can be reapplied throughout the day.
