If you've ever had a skin rash, you know how uncomfortable and inconvenient it can be. If you don't already have a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, you might be wondering what the reason behind your irritated and dry skin is.
So, do you get a rash after showering? Because if that is the case, what you may not know is that your shower head might be the culprit! Not having a high-quality shower head can actually cause issues.
Keep in mind that this article is not talking about post-shower rashes and itchy skin that are purely due to contact dermatitis, aquagenic pruritus, or any other existing skin condition. We are mainly talking about those people who do not have any major skin problems but are still getting rashes after taking a shower. However, it is true that problems with your shower head can aggravate your existing skin conditions.
So, can shower head affect skin? Can shower heads cause rashes? Can shower water give you a rash? You might be thinking of all these questions...and we have the answers! Let's dive right in.
How You Can Get A Rash From Your Shower Head
There are a few ways that your shower head could be causing your skin rash. Let's take a look at a few of them.
Your shower head has mould and mildew
If your shower head has mould and mildew, chances are that they are mixing with the running water and then coming in contact with your skin. This can cause rashes, blisters, dryness, and itchy skin, especially if you are allergic to mould or have sensitive skin. Even a rusted shower head can cause skin issues.
Your shower head doesn't filter water and is allowing contaminated water to run through
If your shower head isn't filtering the water that is running through it, then you could be at risk of coming into contact with all sorts of contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These contaminants in your shower water can cause skin infections, rashes, and allergic reactions.
Your shower head doesn't soften water and lets water with high mineral content run through
If your shower head doesn't have a water filter or water softener, chances are that you are freely showering using hard water. This can lead to skin issues like rashes, dryness, and irritation. If you have an existing skin condition, you might even have an intense allergic reaction to the minerals in hard water. Hard water also leads to a buildup of limescale on the shower head itself, which might cause problems every time you shower.
Although hard water is not unhealthy if ingested, it is true that the high mineral content in hard water can get deposited on the surface of skin and hair.
Your bath products won't work properly with hard water and soap residue will buildup on the surface of your skin. People often end up using more soap when they are using hard water (as there isn't enough lather), and this exacerbates skin dryness.
Basically, hard water can clog pores and strip away the skin's natural oils. This will lead to an array of problems such as dry skin, itchy skin, hair fall, and hair breakage.
Your shower head has extremely and uncomfortably high water pressure
A high pressure shower head is usually a good thing, but not when the pressure is so high that it irritates your skin and causes rashes. Yes, your shower head could be causing your skin rash if the water pressure is too high!
When the water pressure is too high, it can disrupt the natural barrier that your skin has. This can lead to irritation, inflammation, itching, and rashes.
Your shower head doesn't regulate water temperature properly
If your shower head isn't regulating the water temperature properly, you could be at risk of coming into contact with water that is too hot or too cold. This can lead to skin irritation and even burns!
In particular, if you see rashes on your skin after a shower, chances are that your hot shower was too hot. Hot water can make skin dry by stripping away its natural oils, which can then cause you to feel itchy.
So, these are some of the ways that your shower head could be causing your skin rash.
In the meantime, keep your skin moisturised but avoid products that contain too many harsh chemicals or strong fragrances. You can try a few temporary solutions and combat your rashes by using calamine lotion, coconut oil, aloe vera, or a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free moisturiser. Your skin needs moisture to be healthy!
However, your skin issues when won't fully go away until you address the root of the problem — a faulty shower head! If you think that your shower head is the culprit, then it's time to take some measures to fix the problem.
What You Can Do To Prevent A Rash From Your Shower Head
Now that you know how your shower head can cause a skin rash, you might be wondering what you can do to prevent it. You should feel relaxed, clean, and hydrated after a shower instead of having to deal with dry and itchy skin covered in rashes!
Here are some tips to prevent itchy skin, rashes, and dryness caused by your shower head:
Keep your shower head clean and free from mould and mildew
Don't worry, we have easy tips and tricks on how to clean your shower head. However, if your shower head is too old, mouldy, and rusty, then you should know that these are signs that you need to replace your shower head with a new one that is high-quality, durable, and easy to clean.
Get a shower head that has a water softener
If you live in an area with hard water, invest in shower heads that have water softeners. A water softener will help remove the minerals from the water before it comes into contact with your skin. Basically, to keep skin soft and rash-free, soft water is a must.
Or, you can get a shower water filter which will soften the water for you and ensure that your bath products work the way they are supposed to.
Go for a shower head that has a water filter
Getting a shower head with a water filter is important if the various contaminants and harmful chemicals in your shower water are ruining your skin's health. Although these chemicals are added to make the water clean for use, they can cause a lot of damage to skin and hair over time.
If you live in an area with poor water quality, consider a shower which can efficiently filter chlorine, bacteria, heavy metals, dirt, rust, and other impurities from your shower water before it comes into contact with your skin.
For example, the StoneStream EcoPower shower head is a good option if you need a water filtering shower head. Plus, our Vitamin C shower head maintains the pH balance of skin and health, preventing dry skin and rashes. It provides the benefits of aromatherapy along with its water softening and purifying properties!
Switch to a shower head that has gentle yet high water pressure
If you have a high pressure shower head, try using a lower or different setting. If that doesn't work, consider changing to a shower head with lower water pressure, get a low-flow shower head, or go for StoneStream shower heads, which have 200% increased water flow yet are gentle enough even for babies and pets. Additionally, the EcoPower shower heads have three spray settings — rainfall, jetting, and massage — that allow you to have a relaxing, efficient, and spa-like showering experience while being gentle on the skin.
Avoid too hot or too cold showers and choose a shower head that can regulate water temperature properly
Try not to take hot showers that are too hot or cold showers that are too cold as they might be irritating your skin. Go for lukewarm or cooler water if you must!
Additionally, get a shower head that regulates the water temperature properly and doesn't randomly douse you in boiling hot water or freezing cold water.
The StoneStream EcoPower has an Eco Stop button that maintains the water temperature so that you'll have no need to use the water valve again and again. It also allows you to stop the flow of water easily without having to adjust the main valve.
Enjoy Rash-Free, Soft, and Healthy Skin with StoneStream EcoPower
As you can see, there are many ways that your shower head could be causing your skin rash. If you suspect that your shower head is the cause of your skin issues, switch to one that is meant to support healthy skin. You can easily find such shower heads online. However, if your skin rash is quite intense and persistent, please reach out to a doctor as it may be a symptom of a serious health condition.
If your shower head is the reason for your skin problems, we have the solution for you. With the StoneStream EcoPower shower heads, you get to enjoy gentle and refreshing showers under filtered and softened water that help keep the skin soft and healthy. Plus, our shower heads have touch-clean spray holes which make it easier to clean the shower head plates regularly and keep away fungal contaminants.
Further, our EcoPower shower heads increase the water pressure by 200% but are gentle enough for babies and pets — and thus definitely suitable for your sensitive skin. Plus, they save water too — our shower heads reduce water consumption by 35%!
Choose between our mineral stones filtration system and polypropylene mesh filter. You only need to replace these every six months and you can easily find the replacement filters on our website. For a more comprehensive approach, you can go for our Universal Shower Hard Water Filter to enjoy soft water all day, any day.
Head over to our website today to shop for high-quality shower heads and the best shower accessories on the market.