If there is one thing I have really been appreciating lately, it is water! Summertime definitely has a way of reminding us what a gift it is! Corey and I have gotten to enjoy some water-based activities with friends recently that have been so fun & refreshing on these hot days!
One thing we all have in common is that water is essential to our livelihood in so many ways! Not only for comfort and enjoyment, but for health and survival. We are pretty good about being aware of the importance of clean drinking water, and many of us use water filters as an extra precaution. But today I have another aspect of your regular water usage for you to consider. An area that is much more often overlooked.
Do you and your family members ever deal with dry, itchy skin and/or scalp? What about acne, rashes or eczema? Do you find yourself struggling with allergies, asthma or frequent respiratory illnesses? Does it sometimes feel like you are trying to do all the right things for your health and beauty, but you still have irritated skin, lifeless hair and are sick AGAIN? If the answer is yes, I want you to know that I understand how very frustrating this can be! I personally feel like I have tried about everything and am still dealing with some of these very issues. The good news is, I have recently been learning about something that may help… shower and bath filters!
I honestly can’t believe I have never thought of this before! I’ve even done a blog post in the past about the benefits of magnesium, where I shared about how my favorite way of getting it is to soak in an epsom salt bath. The fact is, if you can absorb beneficial things like magnesium in a bath, unfortunately you can also absorb lots of not-so-beneficial things, like chlorine and the compounds and byproducts that are formed when it mixes with other substances in the water.
The reason chlorine is in our water in the first place is because many water treatment plants use it to disinfect water from harmful bacteria to make it safer for drinking. Unfortunately, even though it very effectively kills bad stuff in the water, it isn’t exactly good for us humans to come in contact with regularly. More and more links between chlorine and it’s sidekicks (like chloramine and chloroform) and negative health impacts are popping up all the time! The fabulous environmental working group (EWG) website has a great resource where you can look up your specific area’s most recent water testing results from 2021. You can click here or see it in my favorite things.
One thing chemicals like chlorine are known to do is strip natural oils from skin and hair that are meant to keep them hydrated and healthy. That is why one of main effects of exposing your skin to these contaminants day after day can be dryness. My scalp is so dry and itchy sometimes and it drives me crazy! And my hubby has dealt with dry skin and eczema his whole life. Now I am wondering if any of it has to do with the water we bathe and shower in!?
Although the skin is our largest organ, it can be really easy to overlook when it comes to health. Many people don’t think much about what is actually in the products they put on their bodies everyday. So I’d venture to guess most probably don’t think about what is in the shower or bath water they use, either! But we need to think about it, because our skin absorbs at least some of what it comes in contact with… especially when it is heated up, like during a bath or shower.
The chemicals and compounds in water are vaporized when heated. So when you inhale them, they can cause or contribute to respiratory and sinus problems. This caught my attention since I am very prone to coughing!
Functional medicine doctor, Chris Kresser, shares some additional information on the subject. One paragraph from this article states:
Research conducted on the health effects of chlorinated drinking water have demonstrated a variety of toxicity issues. Several studies have found that communities using chlorinated or chloraminated drinking water have an increased risk of bladder, kidney, and rectal cancers. (4, 5, 6) THMs from chemically treated water have been associated with a variety of poor birth outcomes, such as spontaneous abortion, birth defects, and low birth weight. (7) Chlorine and chloramine vapors are associated with greater risk of asthma, and may damage the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract. (8) Free radicals in chlorinated water have been linked to liver malfunction, weakening of the immune system and pre-arteriosclerotic changes in arteries. (9)
Of course there can be multiple different causes of all of these diseases and symptoms. But even if Corey and I both just have softer skin and less itchiness, it would be so worth it! So I did some research and then ordered multiple of them for our home. Oh how I love when there is actually something fairly easy and inexpensive you can do to improve your wellness!
For our shower filters, I decided to go with Aqua Bliss. I was so impressed by how easy there were to install! Each one only took about 5 minutes and the directions were very straightforward.
Before and after! There are different colors you can get. They didn’t have brushed gold, so I went with chrome. I don’t mind the mixed metal look!
For the bathtub filters, I went with the CuZn bath ball faucet filter. It was so easy to assemble and adjust as needed! They even send you some special tape to help hold it in place if needed. I like that this one is made to be used with a variety of faucet types. I have 2 very different ones in my house and it works with both! And it is so easy to remove if you don’t want to leave it on all the time. Plus, it is good for up to 12 months once activated!
Another option that may not address everything in the water, but is better than nothing, is vitamin C tablets! You can add 1 tablet to the bathtub each time you or your child bathes to neutralize and remove chlorine and chloramine from the water in a safe and natural way. Who knew!?
Whether or not you choose to add any shower or bath filters in your home, I strongly recommend that everyone deep clean and disinfect your shower head and bathtub faucet! They are dark, humid places where bacteria and mold like to grow and hideout. I soaked my shower heads in a bowl of vinegar diluted 50/50 with filtered water for an hour. I diluted it because I was worried about it breaking down the gold finish. I’m going to try and get in the habit of doing this soak at least every 6 months when I replace the shower filters. This can also be done without taking the shower head off, by placing the solution in a ziploc bag and holding it in place with a rubber band so that the head is submerged. Same with the bathtub faucet.
I know it is summer and a lot of us enjoy spending some time at the pool, which is likely chlorinated. Here’s the thing… I really don’t think the occasional dip in a chlorinated pool is the problem. I’m more concerned about the day-to-day heated exposure from bathing and showering. So by all means, have your summer fun, but do what you can to make sure you are exposed to clean and healthy water at home when you get done!
Although I am a nurse by trade, I am not a doctor or an expert, and the information I provide on this blog is for educational purposes only. Each person is unique and their needs and circumstances vary, so I always recommend that you consult your medical provider before making any changes.
