Red Eyes After Shower? Here’s Why

Last Updated on December 27, 2022 by Mattias

Having red eyes after a shower is not deadly, but it is an uncomfortable and common problem.

In this article, We will go through the major causes of the reddening of your eyes after using shower water and what you can do in your home to stop it potentially.

So if you’re tired of seeing some red eyes staring back at you in the mirror after a long and hot shower? Then this article is perfect for you. Let’s get right into it!

Red Eyes After Shower — What Causes It?

Hard Water

One of the major causes of a red eye after a shower is the hardness of the water.

When water is hard, it contains magnesium and calcium minerals in high concentrations and particles of iron minerals in it, which can cause you to have a red or dry eye whenever you come in contact with them while you are washing your face or taking your bath.

Chlorinated Water

Another cause of eye redness after using the shower is the presence of chlorine in the water. The presence of chlorine in water can lead to eye pain and itchy eyes. 

Most times, chlorine in your tap water can be due to its addition by your local water supply company to disinfect the water.

Face Wash And Shampoo

Face washes, soaps, and shampoos are shower products containing minerals that could also cause your eyes to get red once they come in contact with them.

Contaminants In The Water

• The presence of foreign particles, dirt, and contaminants in your shower water is also one of the most common causes of red eyes after bathing or washing your face in the sink. 

Most people are allergic to these foreign objects and contaminants, so when they get into their body through the eye, it causes a reaction such as reddening of the eye, eye irritation, swelling, etc.

Read also: 12 Best Kitchen Faucets For Hard Water + Buyers Guide

Red Eyes After Shower — How Can You Stop It?

Install a Water Softener

Installing a water softener in your home is the best way of effectively treating the hard minerals in your water. 

There are four water softeners: salt-based water softener, salt-free water softener, magnetic water softener, and dual-tank water softener. 

However, getting a salt-based water softener can be a good idea to remove these hard minerals from your water effectively. 

This water softener treats hard water through an ion exchange process which involves the removal of the hard minerals by its resin bed and replacing it with sodium ions to produce soft water. 

Softening your water doesn’t just prevent your eye from getting red when used to bathe. It also prevents your skin from going dry, your clothes from discoloration, your water-using appliances from ineffectiveness, and your plumbing system from scale buildup.

If you’re living in an apartment, we can recommend reading our other article, “Best Water Softener for Appartments.”

Treat Chlorinated Water 

Chlorine is an effective disinfectant, so you can install a water treatment system instead of appealing to the local water supply to stop using it on the water source.  

Three basic ways of treating chlorinated water are a reserve osmosis system, a carbon filter, and a whole-house filtration system. If you wonder if a water softener can remove chlorine, we’ve covered it in another article.

Read also: Will Water Softener Water Kill Plants?

Reverse Osmosis System

A reserve osmosis system is a water treatment system that filters out chlorine, sediments, contaminants, and unwanted particles, from the water before sending it to the tap.

Carbon Filter

A granular activated carbon (GAC) filter is also an effective way of extracting chlorine and other chemicals from water.  

Read also: How To Add Salt To Water Softener

Whole House Filtration System

Read also: 9 Reasons Why Your Softened Water Tastes Salty

A whole house water filtration system has the edge over the other chlorine-treating systems listed above because it doesn’t just treat chlorine from your home’s water source but also ensures that every shower and tap is chlorine-free, providing further eye protection. 

It also reduces contaminants, dirt, and foreign particles in your water.

• To remove the dirt and contaminants causing redness from your eyes, you can also use a homemade eyewash, a brine solution.

Add one teaspoon of salt to a cup of distilled or warm water and then drop it into your ear, enabling your eyes to clean themselves.

Endeavor to be cautious with this, as its contamination would harm the already reddened eyes. 

FAQ

Can contaminated water cause eye problems?

Ingesting contaminated water can cause a condition called pink eye or conjunctivitis. 

Red Eyes After Shower Summary

In this article, I have highlighted the three different causes of redness of the eye and how to solve them, but they are not the only causes and solutions to this problem.

Other possible causes of eye redness after your bath can be solved using artificial tears, distilled water, cool and warm compress, lifestyle changes, etc.

So, endeavor to check for each of the causes listed above and apply the solutions provided.

Read also: Use a Water Softener To Soften Your Pool Water – Here’s Why 

Other Factors That Can Cause Red Eyes

• lack of sleep (getting enough sleep is important)
• dry air
• allergy season
• computer screens
• old contact lenses

If you suspect your red eye symptoms are because of a:

• medical condition
• bacterial infection
• bacterial conjunctivitis
• allergic conjunctivitis
• serious eye infection
• vision loss

Get in contact with an eye doctor or eye specialist to avoid permanent damage.