How Hard Water & Chemicals Can Wreck Your Skin: Stories from Real People

Where you live in the UK has a direct impact on your water quality, most-notably, Southern towns predominantly have hard water, as does 60% of the entire UK.

Hard water alone is damaging enough, but when you stop to think that almost 100% of the UK has chlorinated water, it doesn’t paint a pretty picture.

Hard water, chemicals like chlorine, and heavy metals such as lead, aluminium, iron, copper, mercury are more than just environmental concerns—they can seriously impact your skin and hair health.

Many people don’t realise the effect these hidden elements have until they try a filtered shower. Personally, I always thought the dryness, irritation, and flare-ups of skin conditions like dermatitis and dandruff were just down to genetics.

It wasn’t until I tried Curo that I realised, actually, it’s not normal, and slapping a load of moisturiser and oil on everyday isn’t the way it has to be. Just know, you’re not alone—real people have been through this too.

Understanding Hard Water, Chemicals & Heavy Metals in Water and Their Impact on Skin

Your water contains more than just H₂O. Hard water, filled with minerals like calcium and magnesium, can be tough on your skin, and scalp especially. Think of it like an invisible coating, that when it dries on your skin, leaves behind an invisible, slimy layer. On top of that, chemicals such as chlorine and heavy metals like lead and mercury can also be present. Here’s what they do:

• Chlorine: Dries out your skin by stripping away its natural oils, leaving it feeling tight and flaky.
• Lead: Prolonged exposure to lead can cause rashes, skin irritation, and toxicity. It has also been linked to hair loss.
• Copper: If your pipes aren’t old ones made from lead, they’ll definitely be made from copper. High levels of copper strips colour from our hair.
• Mercury & Other Heavy Metals: Known to trigger allergic reactions, redness, and eczema, with links to hair loss. They also block pores, speed up skin ageing, and reduces the effectiveness of soaps.
• Hard Water: Contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, which lead to dryness, irritation, and exacerbates of conditions like eczema.

The Hidden Dangers of Contaminated Water: Real Stories from People Like You

Me personally, I’ve faced the impact of contaminated water on my skin for years, without ever knowing that was the cause. My girlfriend, Jess, also has suffered with hair issues for as long as I’ve known her. We both just put it down to genetics, and that lots of people suffered, so it must just be normal. Until we realised it’s not. Below are some of our stories:

Dry, Itchy Skin & Scalp

“I’d blame my genetics for my constantly dry, itchy skin and scalp. I’d blame the weather. I’d blame my beard for growing past a certain length. I’d blame well known-brands’ moisturiser, for not soaking in under a bit of stubble enough. I blamed them for years, not once did I think it could be the water, until I tried a Curo shower, and then all of a sudden, it was gone within two weeks?!”

• Symptoms: Dry, flaky skin. Irritation under beard hair. Painful to touch. Symptoms never seemed to improve that much, even with oil and balm.
• Impact: Constant need for heavy moisturisers and face oils, discomfort after every shower, patchy flakes of skin.

Dermatitis & Hair Extensions

“Being a woman with sewn-in hair extensions, it’s tough to keep my scalp healthy as most shampoos are unusable due to the colour-stripping chemicals in them. I’d have the embarrassment of walking around with a flaky scalp for days whenever I had a flare-up.”

• Symptoms: Severe dermatitis flare-ups, redness, and dry patches of skin around hair extensions in particular.
• Impact: Embarrassing days out of the house, and needing to apply natural oils (coconut & castor oil) for days on end.

Regular Tap Water Contamination & Eczema

“My eczema flared up constantly, and I couldn’t work out why until I read our water quality report and put two and two together.”

• Symptoms: Eczema flare-ups, redness, and sore, dry patches.
• Impact: Increased need for medical treatments and ointments.

How Filtering Shower Water Changed Lives: Video Testimonial

In our testimonial video, you can see our before and after filtering their water drastically improved their skin health. Here are some highlights:

Key Takeaways:

• Water filtration can reduce skin issues like dryness, irritation, and eczema flare-ups caused by hard water, chlorine, and heavy metals.
• Watch real transformations and hear firsthand how clean water has made a difference.

“Switching to filtered water completely changed my skin—no more dryness or rashes!”

The Science Behind Our Water Filtration: How It Works

Our filter is made up of KDF-55, Calcium Sulfite and Activated Carbon. These three wonder ingredients make up the most powerful handheld shower filter on the market (ours!). Working together, they successfully remove up to 99% of chemicals like chlorine, and heavy metals such as lead, aluminium, iron, copper, mercury and many more. The Activated Carbon helps absorb the pesticides and herbicides that the other two filtration elements struggle with.

If you suffer with hard water, the best solution is to install a whole-house water softener filter, this is the only true way to remove the calcium in your water that is making it ‘hard’. That being said, your skin conditions are probably more-than-likely caused (or at least exasperated) by the chlorine and heavy metals found in your water, and these are where KDF-55 and Calcium Sulphite thrive!

• KDF-55 works through a chemical reaction process known as ‘redox’ (oxidation-reduction), which replaces harmful contaminants with harmless compounds. It's effective at reducing chlorine, hydrogen sulphide, heavy metals, and controlling bacteria, algae, and fungi.
• Calcium Sulfite is extremely effective at reducing chlorine levels, it works by breaking down chlorine in to chloride ions.
• Activated carbon is a highly porous form of carbon, which has the ability to absorb contaminants, effectively trapping them as they pass through. It’s especially important when you want to remove pesticides, herbicides, and other organic compounds that KDF-55 and Calcium Sulphite struggle with.

By filtering out hard minerals, chemicals, and heavy metals, these systems protect your skin & hair from the harmful effects of unfiltered water, leaving them healthier and more hydrated.

Preventive Measures and Skincare Tips Against Contaminated Water

If hard water or contaminated water is affecting your skin, here are some preventive steps you can take:

• Install a shower head filter to reduce exposure to hard water, chlorine, and heavy metals.
• Use gentle, chemical-free soaps to avoid further skin irritation.
• Moisturise immediately after showering to lock in moisture before your skin dries out.
• Take shorter, cooler showers to minimise the drying effects of hot water.

How to Tell If Your Water Is Wrecking Your Skin

Wondering if your water is causing your skin issues? Here’s a checklist of potential issues:

• Persistent dryness and flakiness after showering
• Unexplained redness, itching, or skin irritation
• Frequent eczema flare-ups or worsening of existing skin conditions