Positive Mind Health Success

Is hard water bad for eczema and should all eczema sufferers install a water softener in their homes and use appropriate eczema cream?

There does seem to be a link between water hardness and atopic eczema, although it is not very strong. Studies have confirmed that more children who live in hard water areas suffer from eczema. Hard water is thought to prolong or aggravate eczema rather than cause new cases.

This could be because you need to use more soap and shampoo to get a lather and this dries the skin, or because the calcium irritates the skin directly. Chlorine in water supplies has also been suggested to cause skin irritation. Before you consider getting a water softener, first check whether you live in a hard water area.

Installing and maintaining a water softening system can be expensive, and any improvement in your eczema is likely to be modest. Whatever the water hardness, eczema sufferers should avoid using soap because It dries the skin.

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