They say that what you eat shows on your skin, but did you know that what you breathe can also affect your skin and rather adversely? Air pollution, besides your overall health, is harmful to your skin as well. Numerous studies conducted have elucidated that the air pollution ages the skin prematurely by escalating wrinkles, ageing spots and other skin problems. There are many skin problems caused by air pollution all around the world.
How air pollution damages the skin?
Skin absorbs the environmental pollutants and this retention by the skin is the major reason of worry for dermatologists. Air Pollution leads to smog, which causes ageing of the skin. Smog is the amalgamation of low-level ozone, dust particles and pollutants such as carbon monoxide. When smog is absorbed by the skin, the former deprives your skin of oxygen which causes skin ageing, wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity.
Vitamin E is a vital nutrient to keep the skin nourished. Ozone, one of the major pollutants, strips away the Vitamin E and leads to dry skin. Exposure to smog can increase your risk of likely to have eczema and other skin issues, such as acne, dryness and rashes.
How to protect the skin from air pollution?
As it is well-known that precaution is always better than cure, it is no different when it comes to tackling skin problems. Thus, having a good skincare routine which includes regular use of moisturizer and sunscreen, is foremost.
Wash your face at least twice a day and keep it as much clean as you can from dirt and other air impurities. Use a soap which is not harsh and rather gentle to your skin. Exfoliate your skin on every alternate day.
Include products that contain anti-oxidants and act as a barrier for your skin, such as aloe vera. You can also go for mineral make-up as it’s an effective barrier against air pollutants.
Get rid of make-up as soon as you can because it creates hindrance in letting your skin breathe properly. If you don’t remove your makeup, you may end up having pollutants trapped under the layer of foundation.
It’s utterly important for you to guard yourself against pollutants, whether you’re outdoors or indoors. It’s advisable to use the anti-pollution face mask in ambient air when staying indoors.