It’s weird that we can now associate the last two months of festivities and celebrations with air pollution and smog. ‘It’s that time of the year again’; schools and colleges are back to online classes, air purifiers have come out of their dusty boxes, and masks have become a necessary accessory. It’s the flashback of last year, and a year before that, and also the time we were indoors during the pandemic.
From media to memes, our feed is full of visuals of thick smog engulfing almost the whole country. And so, all health issues are back, from respiratory to skin. Stepping out right now means getting embraced by smog, pollution, and hazardous particles that are extremely harmful for the skin. Therefore, protecting skin from air pollution has become as important as protecting it from UV rays.
How Does Air Pollution Affect our Skin?
Air pollution is an amalgamation of several deterrents which include UV radiation, chemicals, heavy metals, and blue light exposure. These release free radicals on the skin which attack the skin’s defense mechanism. The harmful effects of these free radicals can accelerate the ageing process causing fine lines and wrinkles. It also causes redness, inflammation, irritation, rashes, itchiness, and increase in skin sensitivity. The pollutants in the air can clog pores causing breakouts and flaring of acne. The other ill-effects of air pollution can make skin dull, dehydrated, and with uneven skin tone.
How to Deal with Air Pollution?
Include Antioxidants-Oral and Topical
Make sure to increase the usage of antioxidants in your routine–oral and topical. So, while choosing products, make sure it has vitamin C and ferulic acid. “Vitamin C is the master antioxidant that can reduce the inflammatory process and protect the skin from pollution damage,” says Dr Madhuri Agarwal, Celebrity Dermatologist and founder of Yavana Aesthetics. She suggests using the combination of vitamin C and ferulic acid in the AM routine followed by a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
On the other hand, Dr Kiran Sethi, Cosmetic Dermatologist and founder of Isya Aesthetics, says that increasing anti-oxidative power internally also helps fight the air pollution effects on the skin. “Do this by increasing oral antioxidants in your diet with vitamin C and vitamin E supplements. Eat colourful fruits and veggies in your diet,” she adds. Include beta carotenes, vitamin A and C in your diet to reduce the damage caused by pollution.
Pay Attention to Skin Protection
If you are out of the field for a long time, make sure to double cleanse your face at the end of the day to get rid of the debris of pollution from the skin. “I suggest cleansing twice or thrice a day, however, if you have dry skin, use micellar water. You can also use an ultrasonic cleansing device,” says Dr Sethi.
You must also be cautious of the ingredients in your products. While choosing sunscreen, make sure to pick one with iron oxide and titanium dioxide for extra protection. “Look for products containing Coenzyme Q10, probiotics and lycopene. For moisturisers, I suggest going for ceramides and sweet almond oil,” adds Dr Madhuri. The idea is to block the pollutants from entering the skin layer by creating a barrier by using creams with petroleum jelly, mineral oil, waxes or other strong emollients.
Cover Hair and Bare Skin
Remember that pollutants can enter the skin through sweat glands and hair follicles. And if you are in a metropolitan city, the impact can be multifold especially if you have longer commute hours. Cover the head and face with a cap and stole, respectively, and wear full-sleeved clothes while travelling. “Covering exposed skin and mouth can prevent pollution from entering lungs and skin,” explains Dr Sethi.
