Is tap water causing your skin to break out?

tap water

and breakouts

Since finding a correlation between tap water and breakouts, I’ve been telling everyone who will listen, and I’m two seconds away from yelling it from the rooftops lol.

The tap water in many major cities in the U.S is truly terrible for your skin. I’ve struggled with adult cystic acne for years, and after being told by every doctor and dermatologist under the sun that my problem was “hormonal”, although blood work was never done to prove that theory. I finally insisted that lab work be done, and the results were normal.

Refusing to compromise my gut health with antibiotics, I took matters into my own hands.

when did i start piecing things together?

I noticed when leaving the United States and backpacking through Europe each year that my skin became noticeably clear within 48 hours of landing, flawless within a week, and at day 30, it was clear, radiant, and quite frankly, perfect. I knew deep down that there was no way my “hormones” just happened to go on vacation.

the facts on tap water:

I did a bit of digging and found endless articles linking tap water to acne. Sounds crazy, right? Try googling ‘tap water and acne’ and watch as your screen fills with results.

85% of all water in the U.S. is hard water which means we’re covered in soap scum (yuck!) and that soap scum is clogging our pores and contributing to breakouts.

The problem with hard water is that its high mineral content prevents it from properly reacting with soap, and instead of triggering a lather, it creates a soap scum layer on the skin.

This not only clogs pores but also irritates the skin, making it itchy, flaky, and dry. It’s also a large contributor to a variety of skin conditions like eczema and rosacea.

process of elimination

I started thinking about what improved each time I left the U.S., and I knew diet wasn’t a factor because at home, I live a plant-based lifestyle, and when traveling abroad? Well, let’s just say I experience things “as a local” as much as possible.

After giving it more thought, I realized the two major things that changed abroad for the better were ‘air quality and water’. In many cities around Europe, tap water can be consumed from faucets and public fountains. Here in the U.S, not so much.

testing & taking action

Since I lived in Los Angeles at the time, there was no “escaping air pollution,” but I knew that I could do other tests, so I started with water before moving on to air purification.

When I began breaking out, I washed my face with distilled bottled water (it’s as much of a hassle as it sounds), but miraculously, my skin began to clear in 2-3 days. I knew immediately that tap water was a huge contributor to my skin issues, so I put a filter on my bathroom sink and shower, and vowed not to allow Los Angeles tap water to touch my face, and with that decision, I began noticing big results!

Below, I’ve included the filtration devices I use and the replacement filters.

What I like about the filter I have on my bathroom sink is that it’s smaller than a typical kitchen filter, so it’s discreet. To turn the filter on, there’s a pin on the side that you pull to release the filtered water. Once you’re done, you simply turn off the water faucet as usual, and the pin retracts due to the lack of water pressure. That means the next time you turn on your faucet to wash your hands, you’ll have regular, unfiltered water flowing.

As for the benefits of the shower filter, you can expect softer skin on your body, stronger nails, hair that’s stronger and less dry, and blonde hair that stays blonder.

shop it:

one problem solved, we're almost there

my favorite devices

With the water filters in place, the cystic acne breakouts were few and far between but still present. I soon realized the other difference abroad was the level of humidity versus Los Angeles, where humidity is virtually non-existent. I decided to add a facial steamer and humidifier to my routine, and sure enough, I began seeing improvements.

◈ benefits of a

facial steamer

Steam opens up your pores and helps loosen any buildup of dirt, releasing dead skin cells, bacteria, and other impurities that clog the pores and contribute to acne.
It releases trapped sebum. This naturally occurring oil is produced by your sebaceous glands to lubricate your skin and hair. When sebum gets trapped beneath your skin’s surface, it creates a breeding ground for bacteria and causes acne and blackheads.
It promotes circulation. The combination of warm steam and an increase in perspiration dilates your blood vessels and increases circulation. This boost of blood flow nourishes your skin and delivers oxygen. The result is a natural, healthy glow.
The biggest benefit: Steam hydrates, naturally moisturizing the face.

facial steamer

I’m sharing facial steamer options here because I’m amazed at the level of moisture in my skin since incorporating one into my routine. I began using a steamer only a few times a week, but soon realized that using it nightly keeps blemishes away almost entirely, except for “that time of the month”.

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◈ benefits of a

humidifier

Hydrates Skin and treats dryness of the skin, nose, throat, and lips.
Helps Nasal Congestion, and can alleviate snoring.
Relieve allergy and asthma symptoms.

I’ve added a humidifier in my bedroom (near my bed) that adds moisture to the air and offers lots of benefits to the skin. I have this one, and love that it’s super easy to clean, which isn’t always the case (I had one from another brand that was a hassle). Cleaning the device is important to prevent pink mold from growing (all humidifiers hold ‘still water’ so it’s bound to happen), which is why having an easy-to-clean device is important (the app will also remind you of cleanings to keep you on schedule)

humidifier

This is the humidifier that I have and love; it is a ‘smart device’ and lets you know the current humidity in the room. It’s wifi enabled, allows you to create schedules (on and off at certain times of the day) and can connect to Google Assistant and Alexa, so it can easily be added to Alexa routines. I have mine set to “Alexa, Goodnight” which turns off my lamps, and my fan, adjusts my air purifier speed (we’ll talk about this device next), and turns on my humidifier. I also have it set to go off in the morning by saying “Alexa, Good morning”

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◈ benefits of a

air purifier

Eliminates microbes that cause allergies, asthma, and other respiratory complications
Eliminates odors, pollen, dust, animal dander, and airborne chemicals.

Clean, non-polluted air = clear skin, so I’ve been using this Air Purifier and I’m obsessed! Again, it’s a ‘smart device’ so it lets you know if any wildfires are happening in your area, and advises you of the air quality outdoors and indoors. There is an app that allows you to control the fan speed, check the air quality throughout the day, has a sleep timer, automatically changes the speed depending on the air quality, connects to Alexa or Google Assistant for voice control, and so much more.

air purifier

I initially purchased a lower, less expensive model from this same company, but wasn’t able to view the air quality inside or have access to intuitive features or an app. I returned it for this model and love it so much that I now have one in my bedroom and living room.

This model has a pet mode (great for pet owners) and I love that when I curl my hair or spray hair products, it detects the air quality has gone down and increases the air speed to clean the air.

The amount of features this particular model has is endless, again.. obsessed! Oh, and I must mention, this model is also a True HEPA Air Purifier with 3-stage filtration, capturing 99.97% of 0.3-micron airborne particles such as dust, smoke particles, pollen, and more!

Is tap water causing your skin to break out?