Dry, Itchy Skin After Showering in Margate

Comfort factors in Margate water

• Chloramine: the disinfectant residual, which people often notice as a smell in steam.
• Free chlorine in late summer: Margate switches each year (July 28 to August 20 in 2026), and some residents notice a stronger smell then. The city's notice advises people with skin conditions to consult their physicians about precautions during that period.
• Hardness: reduced at the plant by lime softening.
• Habits: long, hot showers often matter as much as water.

What a test at the shower shows

Jorge measures total chlorine, hardness, pH and TDS at a shower or bathroom tap. If chloramine is in Margate's normal range and hardness is low, a softener is unlikely to change much; reducing chloramine is the more relevant step.

Jorge can also compare the hot and cold sides at the same shower. If the hot side smells of sulfur instead of chlorine, the water heater is involved, and that is a different fix. See rotten-egg smells.

Whole-home vs. shower-head filters

Shower-head filters have seconds of contact time with hot, fast water, a hard job for chloramine. A whole-home city water system treats water before the heater and every shower, with much more contact time. Living Water describes its Puronics city water systems as removing chloramine and chlorine.

A whole-home system also helps with the smell when filling a bathtub, washing hair, or running a steam shower, since all the water entering the house passes through it.

Simple changes worth trying

• Shorter, slightly cooler showers.
• Moisturize right after.
• Fragrance-free soap.
• Run the bathroom fan to clear steam.

Hair can feel different too; some people notice it more after moving from a well or a different city. The test tells you whether the water changed or something else did.

Clean the shower head periodically, too; buildup can change the spray and make showers feel harsher.

When to see a doctor

Persistent itching, rashes or eczema flare-ups belong with a dermatologist. Water treatment is about comfort; it is not a medical treatment, and we do not make health claims.

If your skin was fine before you moved to Margate and changed after, mention that to your dermatologist and bring your water test results; it is useful information for them to have.

Book a test

Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974. Jorge tests at your shower, explains the numbers, and recommends only what fits.

Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist