We know how pollution harms our environment, but research shows that it also harms your skin.
Pollution can cause uneven skin tone, accelerated aging, and even skin cancer. A study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology compared women living in urban environments over 24 years and found that those exposed to increased pollution had more dark spots and wrinkling. The sun and smoking isn’t the only bad guy, now we know how damaging pollution really is.
When pollution comes in contact with your skin, it doesn’t just stay on the surface. Small microscopic particles (car exhaust, smog, dust, smoke, soot, construction sites, power plants) are released into the atmosphere. Sometimes these tiny particles are 20 times smaller than pores, allows them to infiltrate deeper layers of the epidermis. This not only causes inflammation and dehydration, but also a cellular -level reaction that leads to the loss of elasticity. The good news is you can help prevent this with simple changes to your beauty routine, such as proper cleansing and using antioxidants every day. This makes a big difference in how your skin ages.
Three simple steps that have a big impact on your skin:
Cleansing
At night you need to cleanse deeper to remove the film of harmful pollutants, not to mention makeup and everyday dirt and sweat. The goal is to get everything off without too much scrubbing, which can exacerbate skin conditions like acne. In the morning wash in order to prep skin for radiance boosting products and protection. Your final step should always be a toner for your skin type. It lifts off any debris that can be left behind.
Antioxidants
When pollution gets into your skin , it creates free radicals. Free radicals increase inflammation, which makes acne and rosacea worse. They can cause DNA damage and breakdown collagen and elasticity. To help protect skin, layer on a serum and moisturizer with antioxidants after classing in the AM and PM. Also, eat antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries, leafy greens, beans, and take Omega-3 fish oil. They play a powerful role in our body’s ability to repair itself, especially the skin.
Barrier
Your probably already using sunscreen when it’s sunny, but put it on every morning, even if it’s overcast. Pollution not only damages skin directly, but also contributes to the erosion of the ozone layer, which shields us from the sun’s harmful rays. The UV rays accelerate hyper- pigmentation and inflammation, which causes more damage to skin. Protect yourself and your children outside with UV clothing and hats. Also protect eyes with UVA and UVB sunglasses.
Utilize sunscreen, antioxidants and proper cleansing, and your skin will look younger than your years.
To your good health,
Veronica
“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who
keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” – Franz Kafka
