Skin Care

How Your Air Might Be Ruining Your Skin

Air Might Be Ruining Your Skin: You cleanse and moisturize your skin to maintain a youthful look as you age gracefully. In addition to fighting signs of aging, it’s essential to protect your skin from the environment.

Living in a town with poor air quality can cause dry skin, rashes, and even wrinkles. Popular household products may be contaminating the air inside your home too.

Indoor Air:

You may not be aware that many everyday household products emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Chemicals and cleaners that contain carbon and other natural elements emit VOCs when you use or store these items in your home.

Work in a well-ventilated room when you use paint, solvents, and aerosols inside. Open the windows and air out your home a regular basis to refresh the air and remove skin irritants.

While you can’t control the pollution outside, you can make sure the air inside your home is clean and good for your skin. Your HVAC system should be cleaned, and filters changed regularly.

Spring is an ideal time to ask a professional to give your air conditioner a tune-up so your system is ready for the hot summer months.

Outdoor Air Quality:

Your skin battles against the effects of VOCs outside, too. Burning fossil fuels in our cars and industrial plants is a leading cause of VOCs in the air you breathe outdoors. When VOCs mix with nitrogen and sunlight, ground-level ozone permeates the air as smog. 

Exposing your skin to pollution and VOCs can lead to allergic reactions like contact dermatitis. The effects of VOCs are amplified with prolonged exposure. If you see high levels of smog, protect your skin by limiting your time outside.

Temperature and Humidity:

Extreme heat, cold, and humidity levels can also cause skin damage. High heat and humidity can trigger acne since you sweat a lot and pores can become blocked. Try blotting paper to absorb excess moisture and limit breakouts. Low humidity and cold weather can cause dry skin or eczema. Apply extra moisturizer and use topical over-the-counter eczema creams if needed.

Sunlight:

Some sunlight is healthy for you since you absorb vitamin D through your skin. Ultraviolet (UV) light, however, can cause sunburn and lead to wrinkled skin.

UV rays dry out the skin so it loses its elasticity, leading to premature aging. If your skin is subjected to prolonged sun exposure, you may also develop skin cancer. Damaged skin also tears and bruises easily.

Before you enjoy your time in the sun, apply high-SPF sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. Don’t forget to reapply the sunblock on a regular basis, especially if you sweat or go swimming.

Add some steps to protect your skin, from air both inside and outside your home, to your beauty routine. You’ll help limit wrinkles, dry skin, and itchy rashes.

Also be sure to schedule regular HVAC maintenance to ensure that the air inside your home is clean, and wear sunscreen when you spend time outdoors to keep your skin looking youthful.

Dr Maria

MD. Board Certified physician. Fellowship In Family Medicine UK. 8 years of medical experience in Lifestyle-related health disorders. Graduated from AIIMS – All India Institute Of Medical Science, INDIA

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