Eczema and Hard Water: Can a Water Softener Help?
If you have eczema, dry skin, or sensitive skin, you may have wondered whether the water in your home is making your symptoms worse.
The answer is more complicated than simply saying that hard water causes eczema. Research has found an association between hard water and eczema, particularly in children, and laboratory studies suggest that hard water can interfere with the skin's natural protective barrier. However, a water softener is not a cure for eczema, and research has not shown that water softeners consistently improve established eczema.
For homeowners dealing with hard water, however, a water softener can reduce calcium and magnesium in household water, which may help reduce soap residue, mineral buildup, and some of the irritation associated with washing in hard water.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is a common inflammatory skin condition that can cause:
- Dry, cracked skin
- Itching
- Redness
- Irritation
- Flaking
- Sensitive or easily irritated skin
Eczema can have many triggers, and those triggers vary from person to person. Genetics, environmental factors, soaps, detergents, allergens, temperature, humidity, and other factors can all play a role.
Because eczema has multiple potential triggers, changing the water in your home should not be viewed as a replacement for medical treatment.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water contains elevated levels of naturally occurring minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium.
As water moves through rock and soil, it can pick up these minerals before entering the groundwater and municipal water supply. Central Texas is particularly well known for hard water because of the region's limestone geology.
You may notice the effects of hard water as:
- White mineral deposits around faucets
- Spots on glassware and shower doors
- Scale buildup on plumbing fixtures
- Soap that does not lather easily
- Dry-feeling skin after bathing
- Mineral buildup inside plumbing and water-using appliances
The harder the water, the more noticeable these effects can become.
Can Hard Water Cause Eczema?
Hard water has been associated with an increased risk of eczema, but that does not mean hard water directly causes eczema.
A large observational study found that children living in areas with harder household water had higher rates of eczema. A later systematic review and meta-analysis also found an association between harder water and atopic eczema in children. However, the researchers rated the certainty of this observational evidence as very low.
Researchers have proposed several explanations for this relationship.
One possibility is that hard water can interact with soaps and detergents, causing more residue to remain on the skin. Laboratory research has found that washing with hard water can increase deposits of surfactants on the skin and increase skin-barrier damage, particularly in people with atopic dermatitis.
That may be important because people with eczema already have a compromised skin barrier.
How Does Hard Water Affect Your Skin?
Your skin has a natural protective barrier that helps keep moisture in and protects against irritants.
Hard water can make washing more difficult because calcium and magnesium interact with soap. This can result in more soap residue remaining on the skin.
For someone with sensitive or eczema-prone skin, that combination may contribute to irritation.
Research has found that hard water exposure can increase deposits of certain surfactants on the skin and increase transepidermal water loss, a measurement associated with disruption of the skin barrier. The effect was particularly noticeable in people with atopic dermatitis and certain genetic risk factors.
This does not mean that hard water is the sole cause of eczema. Instead, hard water may be one environmental factor that can contribute to skin irritation in susceptible people.
Can a Water Softener Help With Eczema?
This is where it is important to separate what a water softener does from what the research has actually proven.
A traditional ion-exchange water softener removes calcium and magnesium from household water and replaces them with sodium or potassium ions. This reduces water hardness throughout the home.
That can make a noticeable difference in how water feels and how soap behaves.
However, a major randomized controlled trial involving 336 children with moderate-to-severe eczema found that installing an ion-exchange water softener did not provide additional improvement in objective eczema severity compared with usual eczema care.
A systematic review reached a similar conclusion: while observational research has linked hard water with eczema, randomized trials have not demonstrated that household water softeners improve the objective severity of established eczema.
So, Should You Install a Water Softener for Eczema?
If you have eczema, you should not install a water softener expecting it to cure or medically treat the condition.
But if your home has hard water, a water softener can address the underlying water-hardness problem. It can reduce calcium and magnesium, improve soap performance, and help reduce mineral deposits throughout the home.
For people who experience skin irritation when bathing in hard water, reducing water hardness may be worth considering as one part of a broader approach to managing environmental triggers.
If you have persistent or severe eczema, talk with your healthcare provider or dermatologist about appropriate treatment.
Hard Water in Austin and Central Texas
Hard water is common throughout Austin, the Texas Hill Country, and the Highland Lakes area.
The region's limestone geology contributes to naturally hard groundwater. Depending on where you live and your water source, the hardness of your household water can vary significantly.
The best way to know what is actually in your home's water is to have it tested.
A water test can help identify water hardness and other characteristics of your water so you can determine whether a water softener, water filtration system, or another water treatment solution makes sense for your home.
Water Softener vs. Water Filtration System
A common misconception is that a water softener and a water filtration system do the same thing.
They do not.
A water softener is primarily designed to address hardness by reducing calcium and magnesium.
A water filtration system is designed to address specific contaminants or unwanted substances in water, depending on the type of filtration technology used.
If your primary concern is hard water, mineral buildup, soap performance, or scale, a water softener may be the appropriate solution.
If you are concerned about taste, odor, sediment, chlorine, or specific contaminants, a filtration system may be more appropriate.
In some homes, a combination of water treatment technologies may make sense.
How Do You Know If You Have Hard Water?
Some common signs of hard water include:
1. White scale around faucets
Minerals can accumulate around faucets, showerheads, and fixtures.
2. Spots on glassware
Hard water can leave mineral spots on dishes, glasses, and shower doors.
3. Soap doesn't lather easily
Calcium and magnesium can interfere with soap, making it harder to create a rich lather.
4. Dry-feeling skin
Some people notice that their skin feels dry or tight after bathing in hard water.
5. Mineral buildup on plumbing fixtures
Hard water can contribute to scale buildup inside fixtures, pipes, water heaters, and other water-using appliances.
If you notice several of these problems, a professional water test can determine how hard your water actually is.
Should You Test Your Water?
If you are dealing with eczema, dry skin, hard water, scale buildup, or problems with soap, testing your home's water is a practical first step.
A water test can tell you whether hardness is actually an issue rather than relying on guesswork.
At Lantz Home Services, we can test your household water and help you understand whether a water softener or water treatment system is appropriate for your home.
We size water treatment equipment based on your home's water conditions and usage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eczema and Hard Water
Does hard water cause eczema?
Hard water has been associated with a higher prevalence of eczema in some studies, particularly among children. However, an association does not prove that hard water directly causes eczema. Research suggests that hard water may contribute to skin-barrier irritation and may be one environmental factor affecting people who are susceptible to eczema.
Can a water softener cure eczema?
No. A water softener should not be considered a treatment or cure for eczema. Randomized research has not demonstrated that household water softeners consistently improve established eczema.
Is soft water better for eczema-prone skin?
Soft water contains less calcium and magnesium than hard water and can reduce the interaction between minerals and soap. Research suggests that hard water can increase surfactant deposits and skin-barrier damage, so some people with sensitive skin may find softened water more comfortable. However, individual results can vary.
What minerals make water hard?
The primary minerals responsible for water hardness are calcium and magnesium.
How do I know if my home has hard water?
A professional water test is the most reliable way to determine your home's water hardness. Scale around fixtures, spots on glassware, soap that does not lather well, and dry-feeling skin can also be signs of hard water.
What does a water softener do?
A conventional ion-exchange water softener reduces calcium and magnesium, the minerals responsible for water hardness. This can help reduce scale, improve soap performance, and protect plumbing and water-using appliances.
Is hard water common in Austin?
Yes. Hard water is common throughout Central Texas because of the region's geology and limestone formations. Actual water hardness varies by location and water source, so testing your home's water provides the most useful information.
Get Your Water Tested in Central Texas
If you're concerned about eczema and hard water, start with the water itself.
Lantz Home Services provides professional water testing and water treatment solutions for homeowners throughout Central Texas. We can help determine your water hardness and identify whether a water softener or water filtration system is appropriate for your home.
A water softener won't cure eczema, but addressing hard water can help reduce mineral-related problems throughout your home, from skin and soap performance to scale buildup on fixtures and appliances.
Want to know what's actually in your water?
Learn about Lantz water treatment systems or learn more about water softeners.
You can also request a free in-home water test or call (512) 710-1032.
Leave it to Lantz.