Perth Water Woes: The Effects of Mineral Buildup on Your Skin
Perth Water Woes: The Effects of Mineral Buildup on Your Skin
If you have live in Perth there is no doubt that you have had a shower and thought to yourself “why does my skin feel so dry after”. While living in Perth is amazing, it comes with some downsides and one of those downsides is hard water.
Perth’s tap water is known for its hardness. When looking at the water hardness scale in Perth it ranges from 100-250 parts per million (ppm). This is considered to be moderately to very hard water.
Hard water means that it contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These can lead to a variety of issues especially for our skin and hair. Hard water can cause skin irritation and dryness which makes maintaining hydrated and healthy skin difficult.
The reason Perth water supply is so hard is because it comes from an aquifer and although it is treated to remove harmful contaminants it is not treated to remove the minerals.
The Science of Hard Water: Understanding its Impact on Skin
The minerals in hard water can strip the skin of its natural oils which leaves your skin vulnerable and damaged and feeling itchy, dry, sensitive and even flaky. When it has striped your skins natural oils it can form a film on your skin which clogs pores and can create breakouts.
hard water can also disrupt your skins natural pH which is noramally around 5.5 because the pH of hard water is more alkaline than the skin which results in sensitive skin and can increase skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
In addition to reactions with your skin the minerals in hard water can react with the ingredients in your skincare products. This makes them less effective and can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells and impurities. This can result in clogged pores and lead to breakouts.
Dry and Itchy: How Hard Water Can Strip Your Skin of Moisture
If your skin feels dry and itchy even though your getting regular facials and using skincare, this could be related to hard water. Hard water can have a pH of over 8.5! while your skin sits at a pH of around 5.5. This alone makes things hard for your skin but hard water can also remove your natural oils that protect your skin and lock in moisture. This is often called Trans Epidermal Water Lose (TEWL). Leaving your skin bare of natural oils, your skin is more susceptible to evaporation and dehydration. which can lead to dry and itchy skin.
If you are feeling dry and itchy from hard water one of the best solutions is to reassess your skincare and your skincare routine. By adding more emollients (oils) to your skincare routine you can replace the oils lost from using hard water. This is especially effective when you apply your skincare after showering.
The Hidden Culprit: How Hard Water Can Worsen Skin Conditions
Hard water can worsen skin conditions in several ways.
- The minerals present in hard water can irritate the skin which leads to dryness, itching, and redness. This can create havoc for people that already suffer from concerns such as psoriasis and eczema.
- High pH of hard water can disrupt our skins natural pH balance. This can weaken our skins natural protective barrier and make our skin more susceptible to damage from environmental factors such as pollution and UV rays.
- Minerals in hard water can clog pores and lead to acne and other skin problems. This is bad news for people that suffer from acne since it can make acne worse.
- The buildup of minerals on your skin’s surface can reduce how skincare products penetrate. This makes skincare less effective but can be remedied by using quality skincare products.
Battling Breakouts: How Hard Water Can Aggravate Acne
If you are already struggling with acne skin then having hard water can make it that much more difficult. Water with a high amount of minerals can clog your skins pores which results in acne.
Your pores contain a oil producing gland that is called a sebaceous gland. This creates oil or sebum. When the pore becomes clogged the sebum builds up and forms a whitehead of black head.
To prevent acne it is important to keep your pores clean and clear and washing your face is generally considered a great way to keep them clear, however when you have hard water it might not be as beneficial. To remedy this its important to using a good quality cleanser and regularly cleanse night and day.
Aging Accelerator: How Hard Water Can Contribute to Premature Aging
One of the biggest factors of aging skin is hydration, we have already covered how hard water can dehydrate your skin so it is important to understand that dehydrated skin doesn’t only react by being sensitive, flaky and sensitive but it can also results in premature aging.
The Cleansing Conundrum: How Hard Water Affects the Performance of Your Skincare Products
Skincare products can also be effected by hard water, mainly cleansers. Cleansers contain surfactants which effectively clean your skin. It does this my grabbing hold of the dirt and oil and suspending it in the water that is washed away. When hard water is combined with a surfactant the surfactant uses a large majority of its power to suspend the minerals in the hard water. This results in a less productive cleanse. Choosing a good quality cleanser for your skincare routine will reduce this reaction and give you noticeably cleaner and clearer skin.
The Cost of Hard Water: How to Protect Your Skin
On average people shower once or twice a day and only have facials every few weeks. There is a big gap between the amount of time spent showering and amount of time having facials. Obviously it is not convenient to have facials every few days so you are left making up the difference with a good skincare routine. This can result in extra costs but you will see better results from the quality skincare because not only will it help towards the effect of hard water but will also come with added actives to accelerate your skin goals.
If you are looking for a skincare routine in Perth then Bare Skin and Beauty can help. We are located in Ellenbrook, Perth and offer a fully redeemable skincare consultation using advanced imaging technology and experienced skin therapists.
Ellenbrook Water Condition and Facial Treatments
One of the worst effected suburb in Perth for water condition in Perth is Ellenbrook and the surrounding suburbs. This includes Aveley, Brabham, The Vines and Swan Valley.
These areas are specifically bad for water condition so its important to know how to look after your skin, book the correct facials and use the correct skincare. Luckily Bare Skin and Beauty is located in Ellenbrook, Perth which is right next to Aveley, the Vinaes and Swan Valley.
Book your Skin Consultation, Facial treatments or talk to one of our friendly therapists about Skincare.
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Facial Treatments To Help Dry Skin
If you are looking for facials in Perth to help with all skin concerns and not just skin problems resulting from hard water then we have a treatment for you. We have a range of facials suitable for everyone. From Teen Facials, Full pigmentation reduction and anti aging treatments.
