The Impact of Air Pollution on Skin Health: Protecting Your Skin in Houston

Air pollution and its effects on body organs, such as the heart and lungs, is something that most of us have at least a little understanding of. But the effect it has on the skin? This is something that’s far less talked about. 

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Air pollution and its effects on body organs, such as the heart and lungs, is something that most of us have at least a little understanding of. But the effect it has on the skin? This is something that’s far less talked about. 

However, we mustn’t forget that the skin is also an organ—in fact, it’s the largest of all. To fully appreciate what we can do to protect the skin from environmental challenges, we first need to delve a little deeper into the relationship between air pollution and skin damage.

What is Air Pollution and What Does it Mean for Our Skin? 

 Air pollution explained

  • Air pollution effects on skin

Air pollution explained

Air pollution is a many-pronged term. At its most basic, we can sum it up as:

Concentrations of various toxins that are airborne and present in the atmosphere.

These consist of many different elements, including:

  • Gaseous: Such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide. These are expelled by processes like burning fossil fuels, vehicle emissions, emitted by industrial facilities, and interactions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) that are found in many commonly used products (aerosols, paints, adhesives, gasoline, pesticides, some toiletries, etc.)
  • Heavy metals: Including lead, nickel, arsenic, and cadmium. These end up in the atmosphere through processes like battery production, industrial practices, and the aviation industry.
  • Particulate matter: Both coarse and fine, these come from industrial practices (industrial, maritime, biomass burning, waste incineration) and the breakdown of physical elements, such as road dust and cooking processes.

This list is by no means finite. However, it gives an overview of quite how much air pollution there is and—crucially—how there’s virtually no way we can avoid it.

Skin damage from pollution

There are two ways that the skin is damaged by pollution:

  1. By direct contact and accumulation on the skin’s surface.
  2. Through ingestion and inhalation, which then has an indirect effect on the skin at a cellular level.

Such skin damage typically presents as:

  • Premature aging (wrinkles, age spots, loss of skin tone, redness, uneven color patches, etc.).
  • Inflammation.
  • Exacerbation of existing conditions, such as acne or eczema.
  • Dehydration.
  • Increased skin sensitivity.
  • Pigmentation changes.

How To Protect Against Skin Damage from Pollution 

  • Recognizing air pollution effects on skin
  • At-home & professional treatments: dermatologist skin protection tips

Recognizing air pollution effects on skin

Every age group is constantly subjected to air pollution. While it’s important to recognize any effects on the skin, it’s even more vital to realize that everyone needs to take steps to protect the skin. While there are, indeed, many treatments that can be carried out to improve reduced skin quality caused by pollution, the key is to be proactive and adopt a skincare regime that actively slows the damage.

At-home & professional treatments: dermatologist skin protection tips

Great skincare starts at home. No matter what your age, this should—at the very least—include:

  • Daily cleansing.
  • Using an age-specific moisturizer.
  • Apply a high SPF daily—summer and winter. This should ideally include mineral filters to create a barrier against airborne toxins.
  • Stay well-hydrated.
  • Nourish the skin from the inside with a healthy diet.
  • Reduce alcohol intake.
  • Give up (or don’t start) smoking.

Professional treatments that help protect and improve the skin include skin peels, microdermabrasion, and HydraFacials that clean the buildup of toxins and implant high-quality antioxidants and other beneficial elements deep into the skin. Treatments should be personalized, targeting individual needs. Having a great relationship with your dermatologist is key to fabulous results and begins with the very first consultation.

Get the Best Dermatologist Skin Protection Treatment (& Pro Tips) at Bayou City Dermatology

Helping our customers protect and nurture their skin is the DNA of Bayou City Dermatology. We’re proud of our industry-leading dermatologists and expert skincare team. Protection against air pollution effects on the skin and rejuvenating treatments are at the core of what we do.

Discover more https://www.bayoucitydermatology.com/services and call today for an initial consultation.