Research · 01
The chlorine in your shower.
Most municipal water systems use chlorine or chloramine to kill bacteria before water reaches your home. It works — but the same disinfectant doesn't stop being chemically active when it leaves your tap.
What dermatologists observe
Chlorine acts as a detergent on human skin. It dissolves the lipid layer that keeps moisture in and irritants out, leaving skin dry, tight, and reactive. Repeated exposure compromises the skin barrier, making conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne harder to manage.
Why showers are worse than drinking it
Hot water opens pores and increases absorption. Steam also carries chlorine into your lungs — research has shown that inhalation of chlorinated steam can deliver more chlorine into the body than drinking the same water.
What about chloramine?
Many cities have switched from chlorine to chloramine because it lasts longer in the pipes. The downside: it doesn't evaporate the way chlorine does. It stays on your skin after the shower ends, continuing to react with the lipid barrier.
Sources: King's College London skin barrier research; published dermatology consensus.