Is Tap Water Safe For Your Skin?

Depending on your state or city, your tap water can have dozens of components that you may not be aware of. From chlorine to pharmaceutical runoff, tap water in the US is not always what people think. Cities and States across America do a great job of testing tap water to ensure safety and compliance.

However, is tap water safe for your skin? While tap water is generally considered safe for washing, some people may experience increased dryness, moisture loss, or irritation from disinfectants like chlorine or minerals like calcium and magnesium. Studies have also found that some U.S. tap water contains PFAS, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other contaminants, though their effects on the skin have not been well studied.

Unfortunately, the various contaminants found, even in trace amounts, across the US have been documented hundreds of times. From PFAS to pharmaceutical runoff, find out what has been found in tap water and what you can do to minimize your exposure.

How Does Tap Water Affect Your Skin

Tap water is generally very safe for washing and daily use. Public water systems across the United States do an extensive job of testing, treating, and monitoring drinking water.

While some cities have experienced controversies and legal battles over the safety and quality of water, most regions follow state and federal regulations to ensure safe water.

However, a large percentage of the population reports increased acne and breakouts as well as eczema after washing or showering with tap water.

The use of chlorine as a disinfectant in tap water, for instance, has been connected with stripping away the skin’s natural oils. Chlorine can also be absorbed into the skin, which may cause dryness, irritation, and even contact dermatitis.

Areas across the US also have what is referred to as “Hard Water,” which has a higher concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium that, like chlorine, can strip away the natural protective oils of the skin.

This is especially prevalent among people with more sensitive skin who may develop increased breakouts, acne, redness, irritation, and even eczema.

While showering under lukewarm instead of hot water may help, read on to find out how you can significantly reduce the levels of chlorine and other minerals in your water as well as what contaminants have been uncovered in tap water.

Contaminants Found In Tap Water

Unfortunately, several studies across hundreds of samples have found various contaminants in tap water across the United States. Both the EPA and USGS have noted a number of contaminants in tap water as recently as 2025.

For instance, the USGS estimates that 45% of tap water in the United States has at least one detectable PFAS.

PFAS are what are known as “forever chemicals” that are often found in heat-resistant products as well as skincare and beauty products. These chemicals can accumulate in the body and remain there for decades.

You’ll be happy to know that all Lucin Organics products are PFAS-free, as they are one of 3000 ingredients we categorically ban from our skincare products.

Similar studies and samples have also found dozens of pharmaceuticals and hormones in tap water.

List Of Potential Tap Water Contaminants

Here is a list of all the tap water contaminants that have been detected in some samples across the US.

PFAS

  • PFOA
  • PFOS
  • PFHxS
  • PFBS
  • PFNA
  • GenX (HFPO-DA)
  • Additional PFAS compounds (32 were analyzed in the USGS nationwide tap water study)

Pharmaceuticals

  • Carbamazepine
  • Sulfamethoxazole
  • Meprobamate
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Caffeine metabolite (1,7-dimethylxanthine)
  • Cotinine (nicotine metabolite)

Hormones

  • Estrone
  • Estradiol
  • Estriol
  • Testosterone
  • Progesterone
  • Ethinyl estradiol (from birth control)

Plastic & Consumer Product Chemicals

  • Bisphenol A (BPA)

Industrial Chemicals & Solvents

  • Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
  • Trichloroethylene (TCE)
  • 1,4-Dioxane
  • Tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (flame retardant)

Pesticides & Herbicides

  • Metolachlor
  • Atrazine
  • Simazine
  • Glyphosate
  • Other agricultural pesticides

Sterols & Biological Compounds

  • Cholesterol
  • β-Sitosterol

Wastewater-Related Chemicals

  • Fragrances
  • Plasticizers
  • Surfactants
  • Detergent metabolites
  • Flame retardants

Disinfectants & Byproducts

  • Chlorine
  • Chloramines
  • Chloroform
  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Dibromochloromethane
  • Bromoform
  • Haloacetic acids

Heavy Metals

  • Lead
  • Arsenic
  • Chromium
  • Copper
  • Uranium
  • Manganese
  • Nickel

But how do these contaminants end up in the shower or kitchen faucet? For example, how can there be birth control in tap water?

Unfortunately, not every region in America has access to natural mountain spring water, so states have to rely heavily on surface water sources like lakes and rivers.

So the water we use in our homes actually gets recycled.

When we use water in the shower, that water then gets filtered and treated and ends up in rivers or lakes. Then it goes into another treatment process to make it safer for use in the home and finally becomes tap water.

When people drink birth control or other pharmaceuticals, the water treatment plants don’t necessarily filter for these.

Similarly, companies that use PFAS may release industrial discharge into lakes, which makes its way into tap water.

About 65% of US tap water relies on surface water sources.

The impact of these contaminants on skin health has not been studied. We don’t know how contaminants like birth control or pesticides in tap water impact the skin with regular washing or whether they increase the likelihood of breakouts, acne, dry and irritated skin, or eczema.

How To Reduce Contaminants In Tap Water

One of the best ways to significantly reduce contaminants in tap water is to get a high-quality filter. You can place water filters on faucets and shower heads.

Make sure to get filters from companies that filter specifically for these contaminants, including PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and hormones.

Filters are also great for reducing chlorine, calcium, and magnesium.

While chlorine is a necessary disinfectant in tap water, once it reaches your shower, for instance, it can be filtered for much softer and gentler water.

A proper skincare routine is also very important for skin health.

In fact, one of the reasons we always suggest using our Face Toner after washing and cleaning your face is to wipe away water spots that may remain on your face even after drying with a towel.

Take care of your skin, and it will take care of you!

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