The quality of the air around you has a surprising, potentially catastrophic effect on your complexion. Read on if you want to save your skin.
Though we often don’t think of it as such, the largest organ in the human body is the skin. Unlike interior organs, skin is constantly exposed to air, meaning it can be badly damaged by it.
Air Pollution and Your Skin
While the atmospheric conditions around us may not usually have an effect on our skin that we can actually feel, our outer layer is in fact deeply affected by air quality. According to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, exposure to chloroform on your skin is as toxic as inhaling it and the toxins on your dermis are much more harmful than we tend to assume.
Air Pollution Symptoms
Air pollution speeds up the body’s aging process by increasing the levels of free radicals in the skin. This generates wrinkles and a dulling of the skin’s natural glow. While everyone’s face wrinkles over time, air pollution can seriously intensify the speed of that process.
Smog and dirt are known to cause skin problems, but the air inside your home may be just as detrimental as the air outside—if not more. If you or your family are suffering from chronic acne, dry skin, rashes, or wrinkles, keep an eye out for the following culprits.
Dust
According to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, studies suggest that exposure to dust may have a causal relationship with skin allergies. This common adversary of house-cleaners everywhere can be composed of many things, ranging from dead skin cells to fungal spores. In order to keep your skin healthy, make sure to wipe down dusty spots with a damp cloth.
Cleaning Products
While antibacterial cleansers may seem like a great way to keep your household germ-free, they might be doing more harm than good. Not only can they irritate your skin, but some leave behind a layer of triclosan—a skin-absorbable chemical that can cause liver damage. Look for “green” cleaners in your local grocery store as an alternative.
Air Fresheners
They may make the air in your home smell clean, but they’re actually doing more harm than good. Most air fresheners contain a slew of chemicals such as Paradichlorobenzene—a leading cause of skin lesions. Ditch these potentially toxic products to improve the quality of your skin.
Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Staying inside doesn’t automatically mean you’re safe from damaging sunrays. One study suggests that energy-efficient light bulbs may lead to overexposure to UV discharges. Instead, invite natural light into your room by opening the blinds.
Save Your Skin
There’s only one sure-fire way keep your home pollutant-free—buying yourself a good air purifier.
There are two types of air purifiers on the market: HEPA (High Efficient Particulate Air) purifiers and Ionic purifiers. HEPA purifiers trap 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns, and unlike Ionic purifiers, they have no ozone emissions, which can cause serious lung problems.
If you’re looking for an efficient and reliable HEPA air purifier, head over to Rabbit Air. Not only are their air purifiers reasonably-priced, but the brand has received stellar reviews from publications that range from GQ to the Wall Street Journal.
Retain that youthful glow for as long as you can—check out Rabbit Air to protect your skin from air pollution.
Josh Couvares is a writer living in New York City interested in helping people everywhere live as pollutant-free as possible.
