Water and dry eyes / skin

Picture a dry, scaly, cracking desert. Then, picture what water can do to moisten the land. Skin, for some, can be a dry terrain as well.

Many factors can cause dry eyes and skin, however, one of the most overlooked solutions is drinking water. Dehydration is becoming more and more of a contributor to health issues today, with studies finding that everything from allergies to chronic fatigue may be linked to something we all have plenty of "drinking water." Dryness included.

Drinking plenty of water "not soda, juice or other beverages" can help ease the discomfort of dry eyes and skin. Experts say that we need up to eight glasses a day of water, and if other factors exist, like living in a hot, dry environment, taking antihistamines, exercising or drinking alcohol, our need for water increases. For people with skin conditions, experts recommend up to two quarts of water every day.

In some cases, however, water also can actually cause dry eyes and skin. Chlorine is added to most drinking water supplies to kill bacteria and other potentially harmful agents that seep into lakes, rivers, streams or ground water. However, chlorine, and other chemicals in your water, the very chemical there to help in one area, could be causing problems for you every time you shower or relax in a hot bath.

Anyone who has ever gotten green hair or burning eyes from a swimming pool knows the effects chlorine can have on our bodies. The amounts of chlorine in drinking water are much lower, but it can still have the same, although milder effects, when we shower with it, including dry eyes and skin.

Showering with hard water, water that contains higher levels of calcium magnesium and other minerals that naturally exist in water, can contribute to dry eyes and skin. These elements often will react with soap and shampoo to leave a dry residue on your skin and scalp. This can make the skin itchy, and leave people uncomfortable all day.

Some people suffer from very painful or uncomfortable skin conditions such as eczema. Removing the chemicals from the water they use to bathe and shower can help cut down on their symptoms. Sometimes the chlorine and minerals in water can be even more irritating to people who have diseases of the skin.

Equipping your home with a reverse osmosis filter can remove the chlorine from your water before it ever touches your skin. It eliminates the minerals that naturally exist in water. Removing these elements from your water can help tremendously to cut down on the discomfort of dry eyes and skin.