Dry, Itchy Skin After Showering in North Lauderdale

What can affect how a shower feels

• Chloramine: kept in City water by design to protect it in the pipes.
• Hardness: lowered at the plant; your tap test shows what remains.
• Hot, long showers: often the biggest factor.
• Soaps and indoor air: harsh cleansers and air conditioning dry skin too.

Your numbers

The City's 2025 samples ranged widely, from 0.4 to 3.4 ppm. Where you live and how long water sits in your pipes affect your level. Jorge measures free and total chlorine and hardness at your shower or nearest tap, so you know whether chloramine is high at your house.

Whole-home vs. shower filters

Shower-head filters hold little media and the water passes through quickly, which is a poor match for slow-reacting chloramine. If you try one, look for a certified chloramine claim. A whole-home system with catalytic carbon gives far more contact time and covers every shower and sink. Living Water describes its Puronics whole-home systems as removing chloramine and chlorine.

The free chlorine weeks

Once a year the City switches temporarily to free chlorine as preventive maintenance; in 2024 it ran September 19 to October 18. The water may smell more like a pool then. If your skin or hair seems to react differently during those weeks, that is a useful clue to mention when you test.

Habits that help

• Shorter showers, warm rather than hot.
• A mild, fragrance-free cleanser.
• Moisturizer while skin is still damp.
• Run the exhaust fan.

If you have a private well that tests hard, softening can change how soap rinses. See softener vs. filter.

Kids, pets and the whole household

A whole-home system changes the water for everyone: bath time, laundry, the dog's bowl filled from the tub. Families often choose whole-home over shower filters for that reason. If someone in the house has a diagnosed skin condition, ask their doctor whether water matters for them before spending on equipment.

See a doctor for skin conditions

Eczema, psoriasis, rashes or itching that persists need a dermatologist. We do not claim filtered water treats or prevents any condition. To see your chloramine and hardness numbers, call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974 for a free test.

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