Pollutants and Sun Skin Damage: Effects and Prevention
Scientific research has revealed how ongoing, daily exposure to pollution dramatically impacts skin’s health and appearance.
All forms of pollution cause free radical damage to skin, with smog being an especially harmful source. Left untreated, pollution and sun skin damage effects can lead to the breakdown and deterioration of everything skin needs to look healthy and prevent signs of aging.
UV rays and pollution particles, sometimes twenty times smaller than pores, can infiltrate deeper layers of the epidermis, causing not only inflammation and dehydration, but also a cellular-level reaction that leads to lost elasticity and firmness. When pollution gets into your skin, it creates free radicals, highly unstable molecules that have unpaired electrons. These molecules act like ping-pong balls, bouncing around in your skin injuring healthy cells.
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POLLUTION AND THE MICROBIOME
Pollution also throws skin’s microbiome out of balance by significantly disrupting its barrier, which exacerbates the effects of all types of air pollution. Sun skin damage can affect people even without even knowing it. In addition to UV ray overexposure, there are five additional pollutants that poise the most risk to skin as well as internal health:
- Auto & Truck Exhaust
- Cigarette Smoke
- Phthalates (from plastics)
- Small Particulate Matter (aerosols)
- Smog
When skin’s microbiome is not balanced, many of these pollutants can get into the body through the impaired skin. That is why keeping skin’s surface intact and healthy is vitally important for its health and appearance.
LONG TERM SUN DAMAGE AND POLLUTANT EFFECTS
When these small airborne pollutants get stuck in pores and can cause acne-like breakouts (often called chemical or pollution-induced acne) triggering damage in the deeper layers of skin. In addition, remaining unprotected from sun skin damage can cause premature skin aging, sunspots, and overly dry skin. Other potential pollution caused skin conditions can be:
- Brown spots
- Uneven, dull skin tone
- Breakdown of skin’s supportive proteins (collagen & elastin)
- Enlarged pores
- Sensitive, redness-prone skin
- Uncomfortably dry, itchy skin
WAYS TO PREVENT SUN SKIN DAMAGE AND POLLUTANTS?
Although we can never completely protect our skin 100% from pollution and sun damage, the best advice is to shield the skin with following:
- Anti-pollution ingredients – create an invisible glove-like matrix on the skin to protect
- Antioxidants – protect from free radical damage
- Soothing ingredients – reduce redness and irritation from UV skin damage
Secondary Ingredients to Look For:
- AHA/BHA – keep pores clear and lightly exfoliate
- Brightening ingredients - lighten skin discolorations and even skin tone
- SPF – EVERYDAY! Protects and prevents damage
GLOWBIOTICS has a great collection of sun protection skincare and treatments to keep your skin moisturized and protected from the elements. For more details on GLOWBIOTICS answers to preventing eco-factor damage and what can be done to prevent, protect and correct your skin, check out our 2021 launch to be announced very soon!