Current:Home > BackCan air quality affect skin health? A dermatologist explains as more Canadian wildfire smoke hits the U.S.-LoTradeCoin
Can air quality affect skin health? A dermatologist explains as more Canadian wildfire smoke hits the U.S.
View Date:2024-12-24 07:32:42
As Canadian wildfire smoke continues to blanket parts of the U.S. and endanger the health of millions of people, experts say there is an organ that requires just as much attention as your lungs: your skin.
"Pollution can damage the skin by a lot of the same mechanisms that UV radiation can," Dr. Shayan Cheraghlou, a resident dermatology physician in New York City, told CBS News. "That's by generating reactive oxygen species that can cause premature aging of the skin, [and] can exacerbate underlying skin conditions like eczema or other inflammatory skin conditions."
Reactive oxygen species, according to the National Cancer Institute, are a "type of unstable molecule" that can damage DNA. Recent studies cited by the American Academy of Dermatology found wildfire smoke is associated with an increase in patient visits for skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis.
"Your skin is one of your first line defenses against the environment," Cheraghlou said.
Who is most at risk for skin issues stemming from poor air quality?
Experts say those with compromised skin barriers should be especially vigilant, such as older people and eczema patients.
"Older patients already have fewer lipids in their skin layer," Cheraghlou said. "It can get more burdensome for them and cause more problems."
What can you do to protect your skin from smoke?
Creating a barrier between your skin and the unhealthy air is essential, according to Cheraghlou.
"When the pollution is there, it's even more important to consider that you have a strong barrier protection, and that means moisturizing your skin regularly," he said. "Of course, you can't forget your sunscreen. Just because it's cloudy or because there's pollution doesn't mean that the sun's UV [rays] can't penetrate down and reach you."
Besides moisturizing and putting on sunscreen, staying inside is another good option, Cheraghlou said.
"If you don't need to be outside, if you do have one of these conditions that does compromise your skin barrier, it may be better to avoid doing so when pollution levels are as high as they were a couple of weeks ago, back here in New York City," he said.
How do you repair the damage already done to your skin because of air pollution?
Although Cheraghlou recommends focusing on prevention, he says there are some products that can help repair damaged skin and even further build up strong barrier protection.
"You can use topical antioxidant serums, like vitamin C serums or vitamin E serums," he said. "These help to scavenge those reactive oxygen species up and help prevent some of that damage from occurring in the first place."
- In:
- Health
- Wildfire Smoke
- American Academy of Dermatology
veryGood! (3968)
Related
- CFP bracket prediction: SEC adds a fifth team to field while a Big Ten unbeaten falls out
- 3 killed, 6 injured after argument breaks into gunfire at Philadelphia party: reports
- Horoscopes Today, July 22, 2024
- 2024 Olympics: Watch Athletes Unbox Condoms Stocked in the Olympic Village
- California voters reject proposed ban on forced prison labor in any form
- Paris Olympics: LeBron James to Serve as Flagbearer for Team USA at Opening Ceremony
- Army searching for missing soldier who did not report to Southern California base
- Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in rollover wreck in Illinois, no injuries reported
- RHOBH's Kyle Richards Shares Reaction to BFF Teddi Mellencamp's Divorce
- Love Island USA’s Kordell and Serena React to His Brother Odell Beckham Jr. “Geeking” Over Their Romance
Ranking
- Cavaliers' Darius Garland rediscovers joy for basketball under new coach
- Second man arrested in the shooting of a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper
- Cyber security startup Wiz reportedly rejects $23 billion acquisition proposal from Google
- Commission says New York judge should be removed over profane rant at graduation party
- Glen Powell responds to rumor that he could replace Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible'
- Donald Trump’s lawyers urge New York appeals court to overturn ‘egregious’ civil fraud verdict
- Calls for Maya Rudolph to reprise her Kamala Harris interpretation on SNL grow on social media
- George Clooney backs VP Harris, after calling for Biden to withdraw
Recommendation
-
2 dead in explosion at Kentucky factory that also damaged surrounding neighborhood
-
Gigi Hadid Gives Her Honest Review of Blake Lively’s Movie It Ends With Us
-
How Teresa Giudice and Luis Ruelas Will Celebrate 2nd Wedding Anniversary
-
Police kill armed man outside of New Hampshire home after standoff, authorities say
-
Kendall Jenner Is Back to Being a Brunette After Ditching Blonde Hair
-
'Doing what she loved': Skydive pilot killed in plane crash near Niagara Falls
-
Shop GAP Factory's Epic Sale & Score an Extra 60% off Clearance: $6 Tanks, $9 Pants, $11 Dresses & More
-
USA TODAY Sports Network's Big Ten football preseason media poll