First of all, I typically don't get involved in forums unless I feel very strongly about something and I have done my research. Secondly, I am a chemist, so feel like I have some background to talk on this topic. Thirdly, let me say I am ANGRY! I have been fighting cystic acne for most of my adult life (I am 44). I was constantly in the middle of a breakout, which were worse during "that time of the month." As soon as one flare up would clear, I'd be acne free for a day or two until the next one would start. The cysts were large, red, and painful, and would last for a month or more until they cleared and another "crop" took it's place. Cysts would break open, bleed, and scar over, making them hard to hide on my face, leading people to ask the embarrassing question "what's wrong with your face?" I have been to dermatologists for 25 years, trying to figure out what to do. I have tried every cream, gel, medication, OTC treatment, etc. in the book, including benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, oral and topical antibiotics, and sprionolactone. While the spiro did some to reduce my oil output, it did little to control the acne and caused severe constipation, even at a low 25mg dose. I have recently tried some prescriptions for rosacea, including Finacea and Soolantra....both did absolutely nothing, and at $125 or more to get one tube, a little ridiculous for a medication that did nothing. I would practially get on my knees at the dermatologist offce and beg him for a solution. I was also experiencing problems with rashes/redness/irritation under my eyes, in my ear canal, and on my scalp. After undergoing an extensive dermatological test, I discovered I was allergic to beeswax, so cut out any soaps/shampoos with beeswax - while this helped some of the rashes, they never went away entirely, and I still experienced dry, irritated skin on my face and scalp. Because of my skin sensitivies, I have always used soap, shampoos, and detergents without any dyes, perfumes, or additives, but the acne and rashes persisted.
I travel extensively for work, and sometimes spend several days in areas of the country with soft water (I live in Pittsburgh, PA, which has extremely hard water, and grew up in areas with hard water). Soft water doesn't contain as much of dissolved minerals in it, especially calcium and magnesium. Hard water is what creates soap scum in your bathtub and shower, spots on your glassware, and clogs your pipes with mineral deposits. I would notice that after spending several days in the soft water parts of the country (southern NJ, Carolinas), my skin didn't seem as irritated and break-outs were not as severe. I attempted to do some research on this topic to see if there was any information. Very little was available, except for some small write-ups on cosmetic sites. This one was probably the one that made me see the light and think there might be something to this, as this article states that just like the soap scum that forms on your tub is also forming on your face, causing irritation and clogged pores: [removed] I decided to experiment and purchased several gallons of distilled/purified water at the drug store (NOT spring water, which still contains minerals - distilled/purified water has all the minerals removed). I started washing my face with the distilled water and immediately felt a difference - my skin didn't seem as irritated and red. After several days, I noticed fewer breakouts and my dry skin and irritation was reduced. After two weeks using the distilled water - NO NEW BREAKOUTS. Aside from the acne I already had when I started this experiment, I've had NOTHING. No blackheads, no cyctic acne, NOTHING. Although my skin is still oily, I have not been this clear in 25 years. And this is why I am ANGRY! After years of going to dermatologists, getting tested, taking medications, covering my face in various creams and lotions, and dealing with the embarrassment and pain of cystic acne, the solution was simple - WATER. And not one doctor ever even suggested it....I mentioned it to my current dermatologist, and even he thinks I'm a little crazy. I have been suffering all this time for no reason, as the solution is simple and relatively cheap - much cheaper than a $150/month prescription and numerous copays for doctor visits!
But now I can say I'm HAPPY because I have figured out what the problem is on my own and it has a simple solution...use soft water. I made a call to the Culligan man this morning and they're installing a softener in a couple weeks...he tested my hardness in Western PA to be 10gpg - considered hard to extremely hard). I am hoping this will also help with my rash in my scalp and ears, as these areas are hard to wash with a gallon of water. I realize not everyone can get a water softener, but it is not necessary if you use bottled distilled water to wash your face (including in the shower) to prevent that soap scum buildup on your skin. I have also seen filtering showerheads for sale, but do not know how they work and if they remove the hard minerals for the water, so I would make sure this is what they are supposed to do before purchasing. I have also started using a "Clarifying Shampoo" on my hair, which contains a chemical that binds to the minerals in the water so they don't build up on your hair and scalp - my hair has never been softer. There is quite a bit of info on the web about "hard water hair," but little about the effects it has on your face and potential cause of acne. And a nice bonus of soft water is it will save soap, improve efficiency of my washing machine and dishwasher, and no more soap scum in my tub or clogging my pipes!
I am hoping this revelation will help others that have suffered like I have with this issue...such a simple solution. I'm not saying this is the cause of everyone's acne, but most water in the US is considered hard, so I would recommend getting it tested and see if this might be your problem.
Wow! Thank you so much! I have had similar struggles with Rosacea and acne and nothing has helped (yep, tried finacea!) I have started washing my face with distilled water and already see a HUGE improvement in just a few days. I never read blogs but somehow I found your post and now I think I have found the problem all these years! The water! Thank you!!!
On 5/8/2015 at 2:45 AM, ItsTheWater said:First of all, I typically don't get involved in forums unless I feel very strongly about something and I have done my research. Secondly, I am a chemist, so feel like I have some background to talk on this topic. Thirdly, let me say I am ANGRY! I have been fighting cystic acne for most of my adult life (I am 44). I was constantly in the middle of a breakout, which were worse during "that time of the month." As soon as one flare up would clear, I'd be acne free for a day or two until the next one would start. The cysts were large, red, and painful, and would last for a month or more until they cleared and another "crop" took it's place. Cysts would break open, bleed, and scar over, making them hard to hide on my face, leading people to ask the embarrassing question "what's wrong with your face?" I have been to dermatologists for 25 years, trying to figure out what to do. I have tried every cream, gel, medication, OTC treatment, etc. in the book, including benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, oral and topical antibiotics, and sprionolactone. While the spiro did some to reduce my oil output, it did little to control the acne and caused severe constipation, even at a low 25mg dose. I have recently tried some prescriptions for rosacea, including Finacea and Soolantra....both did absolutely nothing, and at $125 or more to get one tube, a little ridiculous for a medication that did nothing. I would practially get on my knees at the dermatologist offce and beg him for a solution. I was also experiencing problems with rashes/redness/irritation under my eyes, in my ear canal, and on my scalp. After undergoing an extensive dermatological test, I discovered I was allergic to beeswax, so cut out any soaps/shampoos with beeswax - while this helped some of the rashes, they never went away entirely, and I still experienced dry, irritated skin on my face and scalp. Because of my skin sensitivies, I have always used soap, shampoos, and detergents without any dyes, perfumes, or additives, but the acne and rashes persisted.
I travel extensively for work, and sometimes spend several days in areas of the country with soft water (I live in Pittsburgh, PA, which has extremely hard water, and grew up in areas with hard water). Soft water doesn't contain as much of dissolved minerals in it, especially calcium and magnesium. Hard water is what creates soap scum in your bathtub and shower, spots on your glassware, and clogs your pipes with mineral deposits. I would notice that after spending several days in the soft water parts of the country (southern NJ, Carolinas), my skin didn't seem as irritated and break-outs were not as severe. I attempted to do some research on this topic to see if there was any information. Very little was available, except for some small write-ups on cosmetic sites. This one was probably the one that made me see the light and think there might be something to this, as this article states that just like the soap scum that forms on your tub is also forming on your face, causing irritation and clogged pores: [removed] I decided to experiment and purchased several gallons of distilled/purified water at the drug store (NOT spring water, which still contains minerals - distilled/purified water has all the minerals removed). I started washing my face with the distilled water and immediately felt a difference - my skin didn't seem as irritated and red. After several days, I noticed fewer breakouts and my dry skin and irritation was reduced. After two weeks using the distilled water - NO NEW BREAKOUTS. Aside from the acne I already had when I started this experiment, I've had NOTHING. No blackheads, no cyctic acne, NOTHING. Although my skin is still oily, I have not been this clear in 25 years. And this is why I am ANGRY! After years of going to dermatologists, getting tested, taking medications, covering my face in various creams and lotions, and dealing with the embarrassment and pain of cystic acne, the solution was simple - WATER. And not one doctor ever even suggested it....I mentioned it to my current dermatologist, and even he thinks I'm a little crazy. I have been suffering all this time for no reason, as the solution is simple and relatively cheap - much cheaper than a $150/month prescription and numerous copays for doctor visits!
But now I can say I'm HAPPY because I have figured out what the problem is on my own and it has a simple solution...use soft water. I made a call to the Culligan man this morning and they're installing a softener in a couple weeks...he tested my hardness in Western PA to be 10gpg - considered hard to extremely hard). I am hoping this will also help with my rash in my scalp and ears, as these areas are hard to wash with a gallon of water. I realize not everyone can get a water softener, but it is not necessary if you use bottled distilled water to wash your face (including in the shower) to prevent that soap scum buildup on your skin. I have also seen filtering showerheads for sale, but do not know how they work and if they remove the hard minerals for the water, so I would make sure this is what they are supposed to do before purchasing. I have also started using a "Clarifying Shampoo" on my hair, which contains a chemical that binds to the minerals in the water so they don't build up on your hair and scalp - my hair has never been softer. There is quite a bit of info on the web about "hard water hair," but little about the effects it has on your face and potential cause of acne. And a nice bonus of soft water is it will save soap, improve efficiency of my washing machine and dishwasher, and no more soap scum in my tub or clogging my pipes!
I am hoping this revelation will help others that have suffered like I have with this issue...such a simple solution. I'm not saying this is the cause of everyone's acne, but most water in the US is considered hard, so I would recommend getting it tested and see if this might be your problem.
Glad you found your poison,I found mine so haven't suffered to bad for the last 25 years,it was chemical additives in food and drinks
OMG!!!! PLEASE SHARE THIS HARD WATER/SOFT WATER DISCOVERY WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW. I AM 52 AND HAVE HAD THE SAME TYPE OF HORMONAL CYSTIC ACNE SINCE I WAS 12 -- THAT'S 40 YEARS NOW!! I'VE BEEN TO NUMEROUS DERMATOLOGISTS, ALLERGISTS, SPECIALISTS, ETC. AND HAVE TAKEN EVERY DRUG OUT THERE...ACCUTANE, SPIRONOLACTONE, ETC.... I'VE TRIED EVERY OTC, PRESCRIPTION TOPICALS, AND HOME-MADE SOLUTIONS...NOTHING WORKED. LAST WEEK I READ THE SAME ARTICLE AND IMMEDIATELY WASHED MY FACE WITH DISTILLED WATER. AFTER ONE USE I'M HOOKED! MY SKIN DIDN'T SEEM AS RED OR IRRITATED AND MY CLOGGED PORES WERE 75% CLEANER! I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY I WASHED MY MAKE-UP OFF WITH GOOD CLEANSERS, THEN SCRUBBED WITH BUF-PUF AND BETADYNE AND STILL HAD SO MUCH CRAP IN MY PORES. BUT NOW I'VE BEEN WASHING WITH DISTILLED WATER FOR 4 DAYS AND MY BREAKOUTS ARE ALMOST GONE (JUST ONE THAT'S HEALING MUCH QUICKER THAN USUAL). MY CLOGGED PORES ARE NOW GONE... MY DRY, PEELING LIPS AND NOSE ARE NOT PEELING.... MY MOISTURIZER IS ACTUALLY DOING ITS JOB NOW....MY OILY SKIN IS NOT OVER-PRODUCING OIL ANYMORE AND SEEMS NORMAL IN COMPARISON TO BEFORE...AND MY SKIN HAS NEVER LOOKED BETTER. I'VE HAD 3 CHEMICAL PEELS TO MINIMIZE SCARRING THROUGH THE YEARS. I PROBABLY HAVE SPENT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WHEN ALL I REALLY NEEDED WAS SOFTER WATER. I'M ANGRY AS HELL AT ALL THE DERMATOLOGISTS WHO HAVE FAILED TO TREAT ME. OBVIOUSLY, IF ACNE IS CURED, THEIR PATIENT NUMBERS WILL DROP AND THE ACNE SCARRING PRODUCTS/TREATMENTS MARKET WILL SUFFER. I HAVE MADE IT MY MISSION TO SPREAD THE WORD TO EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE ABOUT THIS CURE. AND DAMN IT ALL TO THE MANY DERMATOLOGISTS WHO APPARENTLY EITHER DON'T HAVE A CLUE OR DON'T CARE AT ALL!
