How air pollution affects your skin

Air pollution is said to occur when its natural composition is changed by any particles, and they are present in quantities that can harm human health.

 In the “ Yod ” telegram channel we tell you how to take care of your health based on evidence-based medicine.

The main sources of pollutants are gasoline and diesel engines, factories, dry cleaners, construction sites, coal power plants, stoves and fireplaces, and burning forests.

We have almost no influence on the composition of the air and the amount of pollutants. But most likely, our body is already adapting to the constant presence of substances.

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What pollutants affect human skin?

The main pollutants that affect skin condition are:

• Fine particulate matter (PM)– appears from automobile and industrial emissions, during the repair and demolition of buildings, forest fires, and volcanic eruptions . The pollutant is also found in ordinary dust.
• Pyrene and benzopyrene, anthracene, chryseneare polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), they are found in tobacco smoke and exhaust gases.
• Benzene– occurs from emissions from gasoline and diesel engines during the production of plastics, rubber and synthetic fibers.
• Ground-level ozoneis found in automobile exhaust and industrial emissions.
• Carbon monoxideis formed during any combustion. It can get into the air from cigarette smoke and during production operations.
• Nitric oxide.The main sources are emissions from transport, electricity generation and agriculture.
• Sulfur oxideis released during the combustion of coal and oil, as well as during the production of cement and metals, during forest fires and volcanic eruptions.
• Lead, cadmium and mercuryare heavy metals that enter the atmosphere during metallurgical production, burning coal and garbage.
• Acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, hexane, styrene, xyleneare volatile organic compounds. Their sources are components of house cleaning products , wastewater from the textile industry, cigarette smoke, incense and scented candles, and some types of plants.

Sometimes scientists classify ultraviolet radiation as air pollutants. Not only does it affect the skin itself, but it can also increase the toxicity of other substances.

What happens to your skin due to air pollution?

Most often, pollutants do not act individually, but in a complex manner. Harmful substances enter the skin directly and are absorbed into it. The cover can also be damaged because a person inhales or swallows particles in the air.

But it is worth remembering that air pollution is only one of the factors that affects the skin. Her condition largely depends on genetics, lifestyle and diseases.

Premature aging

Pollutants are linked to skin aging. Scientists note that harmful particles that appear due to road traffic provoke the appearance of wrinkles in the nasolabial folds, as well as age spots on the forehead and cheeks. And there are much more such changes among city dwellers than among those who live in villages.

Coarse wrinkles on the face and fine wrinkles on the back of the hands can appear due to exposure to smoke that is generated when cooking with charcoal. This is demonstrated by the results of a small Chinese study.

Tobacco smoke can also accelerate skin aging. Moreover, for this it is not necessary to have a bad habit yourself; passive smoking is enough.

Acne

Acne may appear or worsen due to exposure to particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur. Moreover, inflamed and purulent rashes occur due to polluted air more often than black and white spots.

Why this happens, scientists do not fully know. But they have an assumption that the problem is a decrease in the level of vitamin E and squalene. The process causes sebum to oxidize, which causes breakouts.

Atopic dermatitis

This is a condition in which the skin becomes dry, itchy, and cracked. Atopic dermatitis cannot arise due to pollution , but it can easily get worse. Particulate matter, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, and ozone can cause symptoms to worsen.

Melasma

This is the name for a condition in which brown spots appear on the skin. Most often, melasma occurs in slightly dark-skinned people who practically do not get sunburned.

The disease appears due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation. But scientists now suspect that particulate matter air pollution may also increase the risk of development.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic disease in which the skin becomes inflamed, thickened, flaky, rashy and itchy. Some people’s nails also suffer : they change color, break easily, and become pitted.

Scientists still do not know the nature of the appearance of the condition – the reasons can be very different. But aggravation can also occur due to pollution. Cadmium, which enters the air through aviation emissions and during the production of televisions, can trigger psoriasis.

Oncological diseases

The risk of developing melanoma increases with exposure to ultraviolet radiation. To reduce your chances of developing this disease, 30 minutes before going outside, you should apply sunscreen with an SPF factor above 30 to areas of your skin that remain exposed. It is worth updating it after swimming or 2 hours of being outdoors.

Another danger is squamous cell carcinoma. Its possible cause is considered to be exposure to benzo- and benzopyrene and ozone. Scientists have limited data that substances disrupt the skin barrier – reducing the amount of microbiota on the surface of the human body. And these microorganisms are necessary to maintain the protective function and prevent pathogens from entering.

How to protect your skin from air pollution

It will not be possible to completely protect yourself from pollutants. There are harmful substances both on the street and in the apartment, nothing can be done about it. The good news is that the human body is slowly adapting to them – but it still needs help to protect itself from the effects of pollution.

Here’s how you can try to reduce your environmental influences to help your skin look its best and stay healthy for as long as possible. And these same measures will help restore if the skin barrier is already damaged.

Cleanse skin

Wash your face twice a day – morning and evening. The first procedure will help prepare the face for the application of skincare products, and the second will remove harmful substances accumulated on the skin.

Here are some tips for gentle cleansing:

• Turn on warm water instead of hot so as not to wash away beneficial oils from the skin.
• Use a gentle, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free cleanser.
• Wash your face with your hands or a soft washcloth to avoid damaging the skin.
• Avoid rough scrubs – coarse abrasives can scratch your face. Instead, it is better to choose products with alpha hydroxy acid for exfoliation.

Apply moisturizer

Moisturizers nourish the skin and help restore and strengthen the skin barrier. Look for products that contain ceramides, fatty acids and lipids – they make up most of the skin barrier.

Use sunscreen

Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply the product to your skin at least 30 minutes before going outside. If you work outdoors, swam, or sweat profusely during sports, reapply.

Cover skin and eyes

First of all, you should protect yourself from ultraviolet radiation. For this:

• Wear shirts and pants with long sleeves and legs.
• Place your hat on your head.
• Choose closed shoes – instead of sandals and flip-flops, it is better to wear sneakers or ballet flats.
• Buy sunglasses with lenses that block UV rays.

But if there is a factory near your home or forest fire season has begun in the region where you live, protection can be strengthened. To do this, just put on a fabric mask – it will hide part of your facial skin.

Eat a balanced diet

This way you will receive all the substances necessary for healthy skin. Here are some foods you should add to your diet:

• Vitamin Ecan be obtained from almonds, avocados, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, beans, lentils, and peas.
• Vitamin Cis found in broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, sweet peppers, tomatoes, lemons and limes.
• Beta-caroteneis found in apricots, melon, mangoes , carrots, grapefruits and sweet peppers.
• Seleniumis found in eggs, tuna, salmon, brown rice, onions and other vegetables.
• Omega-3fatty acids can be found in fatty fish like tuna, herring or salmon, as well as flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts and almonds.

But you shouldn’t buy dietary supplements with vitamins. Firstly, it is not completely known how well these substances are absorbed from supplements, and secondly, the harm from taking them may be greater than the benefit.

Don’t squeeze pimples

A squeezed pimple is an opening through which pollutants can enter the body. To avoid aggravating the inflammation, let the rash go away on its own.

Contact a specialist

It’s worth making an appointment with a dermatologist or cosmetologist if you are very worried or your skin condition is worsening. Your doctor will help you determine your skin’s pH level. Normally it should be about 5.5. If the pH is different, the skin barrier may be compromised.

After the specialist determines the pH, he will help you choose products that will maintain the level or bring it back to normal.