Could Your Shower Water Be Causing KP?

If you’ve been scrubbing, moisturizing, and exfoliating religiously, and those little bumps on your arms or thighs still won’t budge, you’re not imagining things. Keratosis pilaris (KP), often dubbed “chicken skin,” is a common skin condition that tends to be genetic, but environmental factors like your shower water could be secretly sabotaging your skin.

Hard water, which is water rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium, may not directly cause KP, but hard water’s effects on the skin can make symptoms worse. Those excess minerals can disrupt your skin barrier, stripping away natural oils and leaving skin dry, tight, and more prone to irritation conditions that KP absolutely thrives in.

What Is Hard Water and Why Might It Be Messing with Your Skin?

Hard water isn't dangerous to drink, but it can be harsh on your skin. It can leave behind mineral deposits that can block pores and reduce the effectiveness of cleansers, making it harder to fully rinse away dirt, dead skin cells, and skincare products. Over time, this buildup can create a cycle of dryness and clogged follicles, two factors KP loves.

If you’re noticing that your shower leaves behind white spots on glass, chances are you’re dealing with hard water. For those with KP, that’s not just annoying, it might be the invisible trigger keeping your skin from clearing up.

How Can You Tell If Your Water’s to Blame?

While KP tends to be genetically driven, certain clues might point to water as a contributing factor. You might notice your KP flares more after long showers, or that your skin feels dry and rough even after applying moisturizer. If you recently moved and saw a change in your skin, differences in local water hardness could be the culprit.

You can test your water with an at-home kit or request a report from your local water provider. If hardness levels are high, it may be time to explore solutions that go beyond topical treatments.

Realistic Solutions That Support Your Skin Barrier

Fortunately, you’re not stuck with harsh water. Installing a shower filter is a relatively easy fix, it won’t soften your water entirely, but it can help reduce mineral content and chlorine. A whole-home water softener is more of an investment, but can significantly improve not just skin health, but hair texture and laundry softness, too.

If filtration isn't immediately feasible, focus on exfoliants to address keratosis pilaris (KP). Products like the Soft Services Buffing Bar, which is a physical exfoliant, or Smoothing Solution, a gentle chemical exfoliant with lactic acid and urea, help smooth rough, bumpy skin and slough away buildup. After showering, gently pat your skin dry, avoid rubbing, and apply a moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp to lock in hydration. Soft Services’ Carea Cream is a great option since it has 5% squalane, 1% colloidal oatmeal, and 10% urea—helping to soothe, deeply moisturize, and continue softening skin over time.

References

Z.K. Jabbar‐Lopez, J. Craven, K. Logan, D. Greenblatt, T. Marrs, S. Radulovic, W.H.I. McLean, G. Lack, D.P. Strachan, M.R. Perkin, J.L. Peacock, C. Flohr, Longitudinal analysis of the effect of water hardness on atopic eczema: evidence for gene–environment interaction, British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 183, Issue 2, 1 August 2020, Pages 285–293,

Arnedo-Pena A, Bellido-Blasco J, Puig-Barbera J, et al. Domestic water hardness and prevalence of atopic eczema in Castellon (Spain) schoolchildren.. salud publica mex. 2007;49(4):295-301.

Tu CL, Bikle DD. Role of the calcium-sensing receptor in calcium regulation of epidermal differentiation and function. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Jun;27(3):415-27. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2013.03.002. Epub 2013 Apr 12. PMID: 23856269; PMCID: PMC3713412.