Recent Study Finds Link Between Hard Water and Developing Psoriasis

If you struggle with dry, irritated skin — especially if you have skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema — you might want to take a closer look at what’s coming out of your showers and faucets. A recent study has uncovered a potential connection between hard water and an increased risk of developing psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that causes red, itchy and scaly patches. One of the first large-scale studies to explore hard water as a potential environmental factor in psoriasis risk, it concludes that “residential water hardness has been identified as a significant risk factor for psoriasis in adults.”

For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 486,000 people and found that for every 50 mg/L increase in water hardness, the risk of developing psoriasis grew by 3%. People living with very hard water (over 180 mg/L) had a 20% higher risk to develop this condition compared to those with soft water.

Here, we’ll explore more about the study and about hard water in general.

Psoriasis and hard water: an in-depth look

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease in which skin cells multiply at an accelerated rate, creating thick, scaly patches. Genetics play a major role, but environmental triggers — like hard water — can make a difference on symptoms and severity.

Here’s more on how the researchers approached the study and what they found:

• The study analyzed data from 486,414 people ages 37 to 73 from England, Scotland and Wales over a 14-year period, using data from the UK Biobank, an extensive biomedical database.
•  Researchers identified household water hardness based on data from local water providers.
•  They found that increased water hardness was highly correlated with a higher risk of developing psoriasis. This risk increases for those who have both a higher genetic risk for psoriasis and who live with hard water.
•  Women and older adults were among populations more likely to be affected than other populations.

What is hard water?

To better understand the connection between hard water and psoriasis, it’s helpful to learn more hard water and its impacts.

Hard water is simply water with too much calcium and magnesium. It’s not harmful to drink, but having too much of these minerals in your water can cause a lot of frustrating problems for you and your home. These include hard-to-clean spots on dishes, scale buildup on your faucets and inside water using appliances, stiff or faded laundry, and even drier, duller hair and skin.

How hard water affects your skin

When hard water combines with soaps and shampoos, it creates a buildup on your skin that often doesn’t completely rinse off, which can block pores. This can lead to skin irritation and cause itching and redness, especially for those with sensitive skin. These blocked pores can also prevent natural body oils from reaching the surface of the skin, leading to exacerbated dryness. Moisturizers, serums and other skincare products used to remedy these effects may work less effectively because they cannot reach the skin through the hard water residue.

“For many years, those who have mentioned problems related to sensitive skin and skin irritation report a reduction in the level of irritation after installing a water softener. There seems to be a correlation between hard water causing skin irritation and softened water potentially resulting in a reduction of these symptoms,” said Gary Falkengren, problem water specialist at Culligan.

How to tell if you have hard water

If you think your home may have hard water, there are often signs beyond the wellness of your skin and hair. These include:

• Streaky spots on dishes and glasses.
•  Soap that doesn’t lather easily, such as shampoo not getting sudsy in the shower
•  An increased amount of cleaning products needed in order to achieve the desired results
•  Limescale buildup around faucets, shower heads, and other water-using appliances.

Hard water is common across North America, but it can be more often found in certain geographies and in homes using well water. The best way to know for sure if you have hard water is to get your water tested so you can take action to address any issues.

How to fix hard water problems

If you find out you have hard water, there are a variety of steps you can take:

• Be extra gentle with your skin: To reduce negative impact, consider using lukewarm water instead of hot; switching to mild, hydrating cleansers instead of soap bars; and consistently applying moisturizer after exposing your skin to hard water.
• Talk to a dermatologist: If you’re dealing with stubborn skin issues, they can help tailor a skincare plan for you.
• Install a water softener: These whole-home systems treat your water at its source, leaving you with soft, cleaner water from every shower and tap.

Hard water isn’t just a nuisance — it has real impacts on your wellness and your home. In particular as related to psoriasis, the study notes, “Sustained efforts to reduce exposure to hard water may alleviate the psoriasis burden.”

Long-term solutions like installing a water softener can help with this and other negative impacts of hard water for you and your home. Understanding your water quality is the first step. Get started by scheduling your free in-home water test and consultation today.