Is tap water bad for your skin and hair? 
自来水对你的皮肤和头发有害吗？ 

Interest in preventive healthcare has increased in the last couple of years and with this, people are starting to look into the impact of chlorinated and hard water on the skin and hair. How does chlorine and hard water impact the skin, what is the science behind this and what kind of water filters are proven to work?
在过去几年中，人们对预防保健的兴趣有所增加，因此开始研究氯化水和硬水对皮肤和头发的影响。氯化物和硬水是如何影响皮肤的，这背后的科学是什么，什么样的净水器被证明是有效的？

In this blog post we tackle these questions and provide insights on how to choose the right water filter for home. For a short answer, jump straight to the conclusion.
这篇博文中，我们解决这些问题，并就如何为家庭选择合适的净水器提供见解。要想得到一个简短的答案，请直接跳到结论。

If you are worried about bad tap water for drinking then read about why you should consider having a water filter and how they work
如果你担心饮用不好的自来水，那么请阅读为什么你应该考虑拥有一个净水器及其工作原理

Why is tap water an issue for the skin?
为什么自来水对皮肤有影响？

The skin is the largest organ of the body, and it fulfils many functions including:
皮肤是人体最大的器官，它具有许多功能 包括：

• A barrier function, to protect the body from the environment
• A temperature regulator
• An immune organ, to detect infections
• A sensory organ, to detect temperature, touch, and vibration
  
  
• 屏障功能，保护身体不受环境影响
• 一个温度调节器
• 一个免疫器官，用于检测感染情况
• 一种感觉器官，用于探测温度、触觉和振动

Therefore it’s pretty natural that it’s also the most exposed to problems. Skin diseases affect around 23 to 33% of the population at any given time, and are the most common reason for people to consult their doctor when a new problem arises. Non-clinical dry and irritated skin and hair affect to even more people.
因此，它也是最容易出现问题的地方，这是很自然的。皮肤病在任何时候都会影响大约23%至33%的人口，而且当出现新问题时，是人们咨询医生的最常见原因。非临床干燥和刺激的皮肤和头发影响到更多的人。

Consequently, skin and hair care is a huge industry. And big money attracts both honest and dishonest companies and individuals.
因此，皮肤和头发护理是一个巨大的行业。而大笔资金吸引着诚实和不诚实的公司和个人。

So what are the facts related to how tap water impacts the skin?
那么，与自来水如何影响皮肤有关的事实有哪些？

First of all, we don’t need scientific studies to show that chlorinated and hard water impacts people with sensitive skin. Compare showering in hard chlorinated water with soft less chlorinated water and most people immediately notice the difference. But are there any other proven negative effects?
首先，我们不需要科学研究来表明，氯化水和硬水对皮肤敏感的人有影响。
比较在硬氯化水中淋浴与较少氯化的软水，大多数人会立即注意到差异。 但是还有其他已证实的负面影响吗？

Scientifically, it’s been difficult to prove causality on a larger scale, as there are so many factors that impact the skin.
从科学上讲，很难在更大范围内证明因果关系，因为影响皮肤的因素太多了。

Hard water
硬水 

In recent studies comparing post / post/zip codes in the UK and US found that hard water can increase the risk of developing eczema – a painful skin complaint affecting one in five people. The condition causes red, itchy, inflamed, cracked and sore skin and can be exacerbated by a number of factors, including stress, chemical detergents, soaps and perfumes as well as diet and food. Dermatologists and the NHS now recognise hard water as a possible trigger for exacerbating eczema.
在最近的研究中，比较了英国和美国的邮政/邮局/邮政编码，发现硬水可以增加患湿疹的风险--一种影响五分之一人的痛苦的皮肤投诉。这种情况会导致皮肤发红、发痒、发炎、开裂和疼痛，并可能因一些因素而加剧，包括压力、化学洗涤剂、肥皂和香水以及饮食和食物。 皮肤科医生和国家医疗服务系统现在认识到硬水可能是加剧湿疹的一个诱因。

It is most common in babies, affecting at least 10% of infants at some stage. Although it often disappears in childhood, it can carry into adult life.
它在婴儿中最常见，至少有10%的婴儿在某个阶段受到影响。虽然它常常在儿童期消失，但它可以延续到成人期。

However, other studies such as this from UK show no or very limited impact from hard or chlorinated water: http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/research/completed-research/reports/dwi70-2-257.pdf
然而，其他研究，如英国的研究显示，硬水或氯化水没有影响或影响非常有限：http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/research/completed-research/reports/dwi70-2-257.pdf

Overall it’s non-conclusive.
总的来说，这是非结论性的。

Chlorine and chlorine by-products (THMs)
氯和氯副产品 (三卤甲烷) 

An area that water scientists take very seriously is THMs (chlorine by-products). When chlorine combines with organic compounds, such as the sweat and oil on our skin, it may produce trihalomethane byproducts, commonly referred to as THMs. The levels of THMs produced when you take a hot bath or shower are rather low, however, over time, these carcinogens could have increasingly detrimental effects. Read more here.
水科学家非常重视的一个领域是三卤甲烷（氯气副产品）。当氯气与有机化合物（如我们皮肤上的汗水和油脂）结合时，可能会产生三卤甲烷副产品，通常被称为三卤甲烷。当你洗热水澡或淋浴时产生的三卤甲烷水平相当低，然而，随着时间的推移，这些致癌物可能会产生越来越多的有害影响。在此阅读更多信息。

Some research has even associated chlorine with heart defects and other medical conditions for infants. See 2002 study published in the journal Environmental Research here.
一些研究甚至将氯气与婴儿的心脏缺陷和其他医疗状况联系起来。请看2002年发表在《环境研究》杂志上的研究报告。

Companies and influencers promoting water filters also make the following claims, although we have not found any research or studies to back them up:
推广净水器的公司和有影响力的人也做出以下声明，尽管我们还没有找到任何研究或研究来支持它们：

• The skin absorbs the chlorine and other contaminants from the tap water, effectively poisoning the body
• Chlorinated water accelerates the aging process, similar to the effects of extended exposure to the sun
• Chlorinated water can deplete the skin of its natural oils that hold moisture in, leading to dry and itchy skin
• Chlorine not only kills the bad bacteria that can make us sick, but it also kills good bacteria on which our our skin relies.
• 皮肤从自来水中吸收氯和其他污染物，有效毒害身体
• 氯化水加速了老化过程，类似于长时间暴露在阳光下的影响
• 氯化水会使皮肤失去保持水分的天然油脂，导致皮肤干燥和瘙痒。
• 氯不仅能杀死能使我们生病的有害细菌，而且还能杀死我们的皮肤所依赖的有益细菌。

What kind of filters protect the skin and hair from negative impacts of tap water?
什么样的过滤器可以保护皮肤和头发免受自来水的负面影响？

This is where science is of great help, because there’s a huge gap between different types of filters. Some bluntly do nothing to improve the water while others are very effective in removing certain substances, such as chlorine.
这就是科学大有帮助的地方，因为不同类型的滤水器之间存在巨大差距。 有些直言不讳地改善水质，而另一些则非常有效地去除某些物质，例如氯。

First of all, only trust filters that have an independent lab testing or certification showing effectiveness and what they filter. In Europe and the EU, certified water lab is a great quality stamp whereas for the US, NSF is the best.
首先，只相信那些具有独立实验室测试或认证的滤水器，以显示它们的有效性和过滤内容。在欧洲和欧盟，经过认证的水实验室是一个很好的质量标志，而在美国，NSF是最好的。

Secondly, most shower filters last 2-6 months. If they claim to last longer, then make sure that this is included in the test results.
其次，大多数淋浴过滤器的使用寿命为2-6个月。如果他们声称持续时间更长，请确保将其包含在测试结果中。

Thirdly, there’s only one technology that has been proven to work directly in the shower and that’s KDF. KDF-55 is the most efficient filtering technology to remove chlorine and water-soluble heavy metals from high pressure hot tap water. It is to be noted that since KDF is a rather expensive patented technology, some companies mix it up with other compounds such as activated carbon. Make sure you know the proportion of the different compounds that make up a filter before purchasing.
第三，只有一种技术被证明可以直接在淋浴时发挥作用，那就是KDF。KDF-55是最有效的过滤技术，可以去除高压热自来水中的氯和水溶性重金属。需要注意的是，由于KDF是一项相当昂贵的专利技术，一些公司将其与其他化合物（如活性炭）混合在一起。在购买之前，请确保你知道组成过滤器的不同化合物的比例。

Scientifically speaking, none of the shower filters soften the water. For people with sensitive skin removing chlorine does however provide a softening experience. However, for real water softening a whole house filter system will be required. More about this here.
从科学上讲，没有任何淋浴过滤器可以软化水。 然而，对于皮肤敏感的人来说，去除氯确实可以提供软化体验。 然而，对于真正的水软化，需要一个全屋过滤系统。 这里有更多关于这方面的信息。

Other methods such as Vitamin C and activated carbon may work as a complement but not on their own. Other substances such as e.g. magnetic or black stones have no scientific proof nor other evidence that they work.
其他方法，如维生素C和活性炭，可能作为一种补充，但不是单独的。其他物质，如磁石或黑石，没有科学证明，也没有其他证据表明它们有效。

Conclusion about unhealthy tap water
关于不健康自来水的结论

Your local tap water may cause dryness and irritation of facial skin and hair or eczema.
If this is the case, a bathroom faucet water purifier or shower filter, such as EcoPro and Showerpro, can help.
您当地的自来水可能会引起皮肤和头发的干燥和刺激或湿疹。
如果是这种情况，那么一个卫生间龙头净水器或淋浴过滤器，如EcoPro and Showerpro 可以提供帮助。

When choosing a water filter make sure it:
选择净水器时，请确保：

• Has independent lab tests in Europe or NSF certification in the US
• Uses a proven filtering technology a such as KDF
• Provides realistic time frame for how long it lasts (typically 2-6 months)
  
  
• 在欧洲拥有独立实验室测试或在美国获得 NSF 认证
• 使用经过验证的过滤技术，例如 KDF
• 提供有关持续多长时间的现实时间框架（通常为 2-6 个月）

And once you have a water filter installed, replace it as frequently as suggested or even more if you use a lot.
一旦您安装了净水器，请按照建议的频率更换，如果您经常使用，则更换频率更高。

Hopefully, this will help you find a reliable solution for better skin and hair. Enjoy!
希望这能帮助您找到改善皮肤和头发的可靠解决方案。祝您愉快!

Additional references: US Department of Health & Human Services
其他参考资料： 美国卫生与公众服务部