Yes, prolonged or improper water exposure can damage skin. The type of water and the duration of exposure significantly impact the level of damage.
How Water Damages Skin
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Prolonged Exposure: Extended periods in water, as evidenced by studies showing serious skin damage after 12 hours of immersion (https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/2913/skin-immersion-study-shows-serious-damage-after-12-hours-in-water), weakens the skin's protective barrier. This leads to conditions like moisture-associated skin damage (MASD), characterized by inflammation and erosion (https://www.woundsource.com/patientcondition/moisture-associated-skin-damage-masd). This damage increases vulnerability to other skin problems.
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Hot Water: Hot water is particularly damaging, stripping the skin of its natural oils and further compromising the barrier function (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8778033/, https://share.upmc.com/2015/01/hot-shower-bad-skin/). This can result in dryness, itchiness, and even rashes.
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Water Quality: The minerals and chemicals in water, such as chlorine in swimming pools (https://skinkraft.com/blogs/articles/remove-chlorine-skin-tan-caused-by-swimming) or harsh minerals in hard water (https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/hard-water-skin), can irritate sensitive skin, causing dryness, breakouts, and exacerbating conditions like psoriasis (https://www.byrdie.com/can-tap-water-damage-your-skin-4843576).
Minimizing Water Damage to Skin
- Use lukewarm or cool water for washing.
- Limit shower and bath time.
- Moisturize regularly after washing.
- Consider using filtered water, especially if you have sensitive skin.