It’s not just UV light from the sun that wreaks havoc on our complexion; environmental damage is also a cause of dull, rough, blotchy, discoloured, and older-looking skin. Daily exposure to various forms of pollution accelerates signs of ageing.
Air pollution is a collective term for all gases or particles that are released by human activity. This includes exhaust fumes from cars, production processes, petroleum and other chemical refineries and cigarette smoke.
Whether you live in an urban or rural area, your skin needs strong environmental protection. Pollution particles are so small that they easily travel through the atmosphere and settle in the water and in the ground, so you encounter it everywhere.
Although most airborne pollutants do not penetrate the skin immediately, they do damage the skin’s surface which eventually makes it easier for pollutants to penetrate the skin. There is only one non-gaseous pollutant that is small enough to penetrate your skin: fine dust. Fine dust gets stuck inside the pores and can cause long-term damage. Just cleansing your face is not enough to remove the polluting particles once they have entered your pores which is why you need an effective skincare routine.
Just like UV light, air pollution is a serious risk to your health and of course, your skin. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to limit the damage.
The 5 following types of pollution are the most damaging:
• Exhaust fumes
• Cigarette smoke
• By-products of production processes (such as phthalates from plastics)
• Particulate matter (including many volatile substances such as aerosols)
• Smog (especially the ground level ozone it creates)
All types of air pollution cause free radical damage to skin, smog is particularly disruptive. Small pollution particles can get stuck in pores, causing breakouts and damage in the deeper layers of skin, right where wrinkles and most discolorations form. Pollution leads to damage and depletion of everything your skin needs to be healthy and younger looking.
Here is several problems pollution can cause your skin:
1. Pigmentation spots
2. A dull, uneven complexion
3. Wrinkles
4. Enlarged pores
5. Red, sensitive skin
6. Dry skin that feels itchy and/or taut
7. Breathing in polluted air is the most direct route for air pollution to get into the body. You can help reduce this damage by not smoking and by eating rich diet full of antioxidants to keep your body and skin healthy.
What can you do?
• Clean your skin at the end of every day.
• Eat a diet rich in antioxidants.
• Use a quality antioxidant topically on your skin am/pm
• Vitamin C in the morning under a broad spectrum SPF .
• Resveratrol at night time ; alternate with Retinol. Both function as antioxidants to protect your skin. The both help to correct the damage due to exposure to pollution.
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*Antioxidants can help your skin to recover from the damage caused by blue light, especially antioxidants derived from plant extracts.
*Antioxidants can help your skin to recover from the damage caused by blue light, especially antioxidants derived from plant extracts.
