How Pollution Affects Your Skin And How To Combat It - Women's Concepts

From the thick smog that clouds the skies to the noxious fumes belched out by cars and the pungent smoke from burning tobacco, the air we breathe daily is teeming with a whole host of pollutants that can take a real toll on our skin. And given that 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air, it’s a scary thought that pollutants are everywhere and can easily penetrate the skin. And no, your body won’t be able to fight pollution on its own, so you need to give it a helping hand.

Pollutants get a bad rap in the dermatological field because they create free radicals in the body—unstable molecules that damage the cells and tissues. Subsequently, they weaken the skin’s antioxidant capacity and leave it vulnerable to more damage from other external threats. 

How this affects your skin is worrying, at least. Both outdoor and indoor pollution was found to accelerate skin aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, reduce skin moisture, aggravate acne, and worsen inflammatory conditions.