Is Your Shower Water Harming Your Skin? Here's What You Need to Know

The Hidden Culprits in Your Shower Water

Your tap water may look ‘clean’, but it’s a murky story when you look at what’s in it. It's a cocktail of various elements, some of which aren’t doing your skin and hair any favours.

Don’t believe us? Open up Google and search: “‘your water company name’ Water Quality Report”, enter your postcode on your water company's website, and take a look for yourself. When we first searched ours, we found 72 chemicals and heavy metals reported as being found in our water supply, such as:

1. Chlorine and chemicals: Yes, the same stuff used in swimming pools. It's great for killing the harmful bacteria found in water, but it also causes major issues on your skin and hair such as irritation, dryness and exasperating conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and dandruff. Other chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides,
2. Heavy metals: Arsenic, lead, copper, and aluminium - are just a few of the soluble metals that find their way into your shower water, especially if you live in an older home. These clog pores and stick to hair follicles over time, leading to weak, brittle hair loses natural shine.
3. Hard water minerals: If you live in a hard water area (60% of the UK does), your water is full of calcium and magnesium. These minerals can leave a residue on your skin and hair - just take a look at your kettle as an example!
4. Bacteria and other microorganisms: While our water treatment is generally excellent, some nasties can occasionally slip through the net. This is where chlorine saves the day, however we don’t want to wash ourselves in it.

7 Signs Your Shower Water May Be Affecting Your Skin

If you're experiencing any of the following, your shower water might be the culprit:

• Dryness and itchiness
• Eczema and psoriasis flare-ups
• Flaky scalp
• Weak, brittle hair strands that are prone to frizziness.
• Dull hair colour or rapid loss of hair colour
• Premature ageing
• Acne or other skin irritations such as rashes

The Science Behind Water Quality and Skin Health

Don’t just take our word for all of this – there's the real science behind how water affects our skin and hair:

• Chlorine strips away the natural oils that keep our skin and hair moisturised and protected. Our skin should be elastic, chlorine tightens it up.
• Hard water can disrupt your skin and hair's pH balance, leading to dryness and irritation.
• Contaminants in water can damage your skin's protective barrier, making it more susceptible to environmental stressors and allergens.

Beyond Your Skin & Hair: Other Health Implications

It's not just your skin and hair at risk. Poor water quality can affect:

• Your respiratory system: Chlorine vapours are released in hot water in the steam, and isn't ideal for your lungs.
• Your overall health: Some studies suggest potential long-term health effects from prolonged exposure to certain water contaminants.

How Can You Check Your Water Quality?

Curious about what's in your water? As part of UK Government legislation, water companies are forced by law to test your water at the local source and publicly report the figures for transparency. Unfortunately, they don’t scream and shout about this, so many people don’t even know that water quality reports exist. Open up Google and search: “‘your water company name’ Water Quality Report”, enter your postcode on your water company's website, and take a look for yourself.

What Can You Do?

Water filters are the best way to remove most of the nasty stuff from your water supply. At Curo, we have created a filtered shower head that successfully removes up to 99% of chemicals and heavy metals by using two of the best water filtration mediums on the market; KDF-55 and Calcium Sulphite. As water passes through the filter, a chemical reaction (redox) successfully transforms harmful contaminants into harmless components. The result? Pure, clean water, that will leave your skin singing and hair dancing.

In the meantime, pay attention to how your skin and hair feel after showering. Is your skin tight, dry, or itchy? Have you got a build-up of flaky skin in your hair or a constant stream of dandruff that you can’t clear? These could be signs that your water is the issue.

Remember, your skin is your body's largest organ, and plays a crucial barrier against environmental harm and how you feel. Taking care of it isn't just about what you put on it – but what you’re exposed to.