And What It’s Doing to Your Skin and Hair

If you’ve ever switched on your shower and noticed brown, orange, or cloudy water, it’s not just gross—it’s a sign something’s off inside your building.

The good news? It’s fixable.

The bad news? Until it is, that rusty water could be messing with your skin, your hair, and your health.

First—What Causes Brown Shower Water?

Brown water is almost always caused by rust.

While the water entering UAE homes is treated and clean at the source, it can pick up contaminants inside the building—especially if you live in a place with:

  • Old galvanized pipes
  • Rooftop tanks that collect dust and sand
  • Water heaters that haven’t been flushed in years

When metal corrodes, it sheds iron oxide—aka rust flakes—into your water. This rust mixes with sediment, sand, and mineral scale… and ends up right in your shower stream.

That’s why one of the most searched questions in the UAE is:

Why is brown water coming out of my shower?

Is It Safe to Shower in Brown Water?

Technically? Yes.

But safe doesn’t mean good for you.

Most rusty water isn’t toxic, but it can irritate your skin, damage your hair, and trigger breakouts. Let’s break it down.

 

What’s Hiding in That Brown Tint?

Behind that discolouration is more than just rust. You’re probably showering in:

  • Iron particles from corroded tanks and pipes

  • Zinc or copper flakes from aging plumbing

  • Sand and grit from rooftop tanks

  • Heater sludge and mineral scale

Even if the water looks “clear” after running for a few seconds, these particles can still be present—and too small to see.

 

How It Affects Your Skin and Hair

Brown water isn’t just a plumbing issue. It’s a cosmetic one too.

Here’s how it can show up:

🧴 Skin

  • Clogged pores → breakouts, roughness, and inflammation
  • Dryness & irritation → rust strips away natural oils
  • Worsens eczema or sensitivity → flare-ups are more common
“Every time I showered, my skin felt tight and itchy—even after using lotion.”

💇 Hair

  • Frizz, dryness, breakage → minerals coat your strands
  • Dull or brassy tones → blonde or colored hair turns orange
  • Scalp buildup → rust settles on the scalp and clogs follicles
  • Treatments stop working → masks, conditioners, and dye don’t absorb properly

You don’t always notice the damage overnight. But over weeks, it adds up.

 

How Do I Stop Rust from Coming Through My Shower?

You can’t control the building’s pipes or the water tank on the roof.

But you can stop that rust before it touches your skin.

The most effective (and renter-friendly) solution?

A rust filter—installed right at your shower.

 

How Auro's Rust Shower Filters Work

A rust filter (like this one from Auro Essentials) uses a polypropylene filter to trap:

  • Iron flakes
  • Sand and sediment
  • Visible rust and sludge

As water flows through, the filter physically blocks all that debris.

You’ll even see it change color over time—from white to orange-brown.

Here's what it looks like after just 97 days of use

 

Do You Need One?

If you’ve asked any of these:

  • Why does my water turn brown after a few hours?
  • Why does my skin itch after I shower?
  • Why is my blonde hair turning orange?
  • How do I stop rust from staining my bathroom?

You’ll probably benefit from a filter.

Especially if you live in a building over 5 years old with a rooftop tank—which is most of the UAE.

Want to see the difference?

👉 Try the Auro Rust Filter — designed for UAE homes, tanks, and taps.

You’ll see the rust before it ever touches you.

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