We love healthy living products for the family here at VV TV and are delighted to try out this super dechlorinating tap water filter from Water for Health. 

Our hair and skin feels better and you even save 25% of the water you use.  

Its shocking to know is that there are traces of potentially harmful chemicals, heavy metals and microplastics in our tap water, however some people assume that their shower water is entirely safe. After all, we’re not drinking the water that cascades from our showerhead are we?

However, we don’t have to swallow shower water to experience a negative effect.

Numerous studies indicate that lifeguards, as well as frequent swimmers at indoor pools containing high levels of chlorine, have suffered from exacerbated asthma symptoms, and these have generally been attributed to the presence of chlorine in the water.

The effect of chlorine and its by-products on allergic and respiratory health continues to be the subject of research, and yet most of us think nothing of luxuriating under piping-hot shower water day after day.

Chlorine is a chemical used to kill bacteria, viruses and protozoans including waterborne pathogens that have the potential to make us very sick. It is, in this sense, entirely useful and necessary.

However, the downsides are rarely mentioned. One of them is that chlorine, in addition to killing harmful bacteria, destroys good bacteria. Yes, the same beneficial intestinal flora we hear so much about these days, and which is widely regarded as a foundational part of physical and mental health.

This is one of the reasons people use a dechlorinating tap water filter. Of course, we are not drinking chlorinated water in the shower but crucially, we are absorbing it through our pores (which are opened in warm water) and by inhaling chlorine vapour.

According to studies conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, absorption via the skin is responsible for 64% of waterborne contaminants that enter the body.

Eye irritation is another possible outcome from showering in chlorinated water. This will sound familiar to anyone in the habit of swimming at the local pool, and who has had to contend with burning eyes afterwards.

Let us not forget to mention, too, the aesthetic justifications for filtering your shower water, as many people suffer from dry, frizzy or brittle hair, as well as dry and irritated skin, symptoms which are improved when chlorine is removed from the water.

So how exactly does chlorinated shower water affect skin and hair?

In essence, it strips natural surface-layer oils from the skin, resulting in tightness, dryness and even flare-ups in those with particularly sensitive skin.

For many, chlorine necessitates the use of a moisturising lotion after long showers or a period in the pool, both to rehydrate and re-energise tired or chalky skin.

As for hair, chlorine can have the same drying effect, wicking strands of their natural lubricant, sebum.

This is one of the main reasons swimmers wear shower caps, and if you take long showers, resulting in split ends, cracked cuticles or a general lack of lustre, it’s definitely something to ponder.

Although removing chlorine from your shower water using a device such as the AtoZero Happy Shower Filter is a smart option, there are other steps you can take to minimise the impact of chlorine and THMs.

For a start, shower in warm – rather than steaming-hot – water; this will have the effect of reducing the amount of chlorine steam you inhale and preserve more of your skin’s natural oils.

Second, never luxuriate in the shower: simply wash and rinse, then step out to towel off.

Opening a window or using an extractor fan will also allow for chlorine gas to disperse.

With a little luck, more people will take these considerations into account before enjoying their daily shower.

The Biocera Atozero Happy Shower Head is £42.75 with replacement filters at £12.75.