Skin knowledge Guide Lime water and the skin

Lime water and the skin - the influence of water hardness on our skin

Our skin comes in contact with water every day, whether it is when we wash our hands, take a shower or clean our apartment/home. Water quality and water hardness vary in different countries and regions. Perhaps you have also noticed differences in your skin after taking a shower at home or somewhere else, like on vacation? Sometimes the skin feels dry, it tightens or even starts to flake. Sometimes, however, it feels so good that you can even do without moisturizer. But how does this happen? The answer is: it’s due to the hardness or lime content of the water.

This article was written in collaboration with our skin expert Frau Dr. Buder-Bakhaya, specialist in dermatology, venereology, and allergy.

What is lime/hard water?

Lime is formed when calcium and magnesium combine with carbon dioxide dissolved in water. The hardness of water depends on its content of calcium and magnesium ions. If the water contains a lot of lime, i.e. a high content of calcium and magnesium ions, the water is called limy or “hard”. If there are hardly any minerals in the water, it is low in lime or “soft”.

How limy is my water?

You can find out how hard the water in your home is by asking your local water supplier. In Germany, water hardness is measured in °dH (degrees of German hardness). If the value is less than 8.4 °dH, the water is soft and therefore not very calcareous, if the value is between 8.4°dH and 14°dH it is medium hard and if the concentration is above 14°dH it is called hard and therefore calcareous water. Since the hardness of the water due to the lime content has an influence on many kitchen appliances and the effect of detergents (the harder the water the more soap, detergents and cleaning agents are needed), it is useful to know about the water hardness of your own water. In this way, appropriate measures can be taken, such as regular descaling of kettles and coffee machines.

Is limy water unhealthy?

No, quite the opposite. Hard water contains minerals that are essential for building bones, teeth and muscles. Thus, a high lime content in the water is even healthy for the body. But not everything that is healthy for the body from the inside is also good for it from the outside.

Calcification of the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis) has nothing to do with the intake of limy water. Calcified vessels are the consequences of diseases (e.g. diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure), genetic predisposition or lifestyle (e.g. obesity, smoking, high-fat diet, lack of exercise).

What influence does limy water have on the skin?

Due to its high content of minerals, hard water leaves a fine mineral film on the skin, which disrupts the skin barrier function. Due to the disturbed barrier function, the skin loses more moisture. This is the reason for a feeling of tightness on the skin after showering. A strong loss of moisture, for example due to the combination of a genetic skin barrier disorder (atopic dermatitis tendency) and lime-rich water, can lead to skin problems such as eczema and dandruff. Accordingly, limy water can unfortunately have a negative effect on the skin.

What can you do against lime on the skin?

Depending on the hardness of the water, it makes sense either to install a decalcification system in the house or to apply a lime filter attachment directly to the faucet, which filters the minerals directly when the water comes out of the tap. It also helps not to take showers that are too hot and too long. This is because the hotter the water is, the more it dries out the skin. After showering, we also recommend that you apply a nourishing body lotion and face cream directly. No more than 3 minutes should pass between showering and applying the cream. So it is best to apply cream immediately after drying off.

How can you take care of your skin if you already suffer from skin problems?

Whether based on limy water, showering too hot or other reasons: Skin problems such as dryness and flaking nobody likes. However, you can treat this with mild, skin-friendly and caring products. These include products that have a pH value below 6 and contain active ingredients such as urea or panthenol. For particularly sensitive skin, it is also advisable to use fragrance-free care products to avoid further irritation and the development of contact allergies.