Skin Care
All about La Roche-Posay's Thermal Spring Water
by Paige Herman-Axel, L'Oreal Dermatological Beauty|June 05, 2024
The experts from La Roche-Posay are here to share the latest skin care intel.
Water may be a simple molecule containing two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, but its importance can’t be denied. Water is essential for sustaining all kinds of life, its power can be harnessed to create energy, and water can benefit the health of the skin as well, depending on its source. La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water is one very special kind of water that’s proven so beneficial in nature it inspired an entire skin care company. Follow along as we dive into the details, including:
The thermal springs in the French town of La Roche-Posay are believed to have been first discovered by a nobleman named Bertrand du Guesclin in the 14th century. As legend has it, du Guesclin’s horse suffered from severe eczema that fully cleared after the horse submerged itself in the water.
This water’s healing reputation endured and spread, and in the 17th century, Pierre Milon, a doctor to Henry IV and Louis XIII, performed the first analysis. He discovered the La Roche-Posay water contained a unique combination of minerals and trace elements that have a soothing effect on the skin as well as a high concentration of selenium, a natural antioxidant.
Each drop begins as rainwater that flows over vast limestone formations, picking up selenium, minerals and trace elements along the way. Shielded from pollution and untouched for thousands of years, La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water is of the highest level of purity, has a neutral pH and is never treated in any way.
In the early 19th century, General Napoleon Bonaparte built a thermal hospital in La Roche-Posay where his soldiers could be treated for their skin conditions. The facility was recognized by the French Academy of Medicine in 1897, and the first Thermal Centre for the management of skin disorders, such as eczema and psoriasis, opened in 1905. Then, in 1913, the French Academy of Medicine officially declared the town of La Roche-Posay a Thermal Spa Town and recognized the unique skin care properties of La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water.
La Roche-Posay’s Thermal Spring Water was the original inspiration for the La Roche-Posay skin care line, which debuted in 1975. The idea was to develop skin care products with this unique thermal water in an effort to provide dermatologists with effective solutions for their patients with sensitive skin. Today, nearly all La Roche-Posay products feature the water. Along the way, researchers have proven the benefits of this water’s unique composition, especially for those with sensitive skin.
Over the century following its opening, the La Roche-Posay Thermal Center became Europe’s leading thermal center for dermatology. In 2009, it opened its doors to patients experiencing skin-related side effects of cancer treatment.
In the years since, La Roche-Posay has expanded its commitment to bettering the lives of cancer patients. La Roche-Posay created a consortium of dermatologists and oncologists called ESKIMO (short for European Skin Management in Oncology) in 2013 to develop and promote skin care recommendations for cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatment. In 2017, La Roche-Posay partnered with George Washington University’s Cancer Center to launch the GW Supportive Oncodermatology Clinic to meet the comprehensive dermatologic needs of cancer patients by addressing the broad range of skin-related side effects related to cancer treatments.
All the while, La Roche-Posay has worked in conjunction with the American Cancer Society to provide educational resources for patients and their caregivers at every stage of their cancer journey. This initiative focuses on physical and mental well-being, nutrition, communication and proper skin care during treatment to optimize quality of life while living with cancer.
Lauded for its soothing and antioxidant properties, this special spring water is a key ingredient in almost every La Roche-Posay product, and you can get Thermal Spring Water on its own as an ultra-fine mist. It offers a soothing, refreshing pick-me-up for the skin that’s suitable for use anytime and anywhere, whether after cleansing as part of your morning and evening skin care routines or when you’re on the go. Safe for all skin types, La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water is the ultimate skin-soother, and it can also help you beat the heat in the summer by providing a cooling spritz when you need it most.
Are you interested in learning more about La Roche-Posay skin care products? Members of the LovelySkin team have shared their favorite La Roche-Posay sunscreens, cleansers and more on the LovelySkin Blog.
