3 Environmental Factors That Are Affecting Your Skin
External impacts harm skin health and favour premature aging. Meet three of these villains and learn how to fight them.Well known environmental factors leading to extrinsic skin aging are sun exposure and smoking.
The skin is our organism’s main interface with the world. Active and reactive, it suffers from the most varied external impacts that can harm your health and favour premature aging.Environmental factors that influence skin aging and carcinogenesis fall into the following major categories: sun radiation (ultraviolet radiation, visible light, and infra-red radiation), air pollution, tobacco smoke, nutrition, some less well-studied factors, and cosmetic products.
Check out 03 environmental villains that contribute to skin degeneration and what to do to take care of the largest organ in your body.
Pollution
One of the main causes of respiratory diseases, air pollution also affects the skin. And she is one of the most difficult villains to avoid, as she is everywhere – in urban and rural areas of cities, inside and outside the home – albeit in different intensities.
Initially, most airborne pollutants do not penetrate the innermost layers of the skin. They start by damaging the skin barrier, right on the surface. However, this damage leaves the door open for nanoparticles to enter deeper and deeper.
Pollution contributes to skin dehydration, increases the production of enzymes and free radicals that destroy collagen, and carries agents that make the skin more sensitized and irritable.
How to mitigate the effects of pollution
Cleaning the skin to eliminate pollution residues is crucial. Always using soap suitable for your skin type and condition, respecting the physiological pH and protecting the positive biome, our army of health-friendly microorganisms.
But cleaning alone is not enough. It is also important to help the skin “shield” itself, maintaining the integrity of the hydrolipidic mantle, our protective biofilm. So, remember to apply moisturizer.
Solar radiation
You must have read this a thousand times, but yes, solar radiation damages the skin. It is one of the main factors of premature aging and a major health risk, as it can trigger melanoma and other types of skin cancer.
Exposure to the sun causes the skin to lose moisture and natural oils, leaving it dry and scaly. Even in younger people, it contributes to photoaging – premature aging due to sun exposure.
Solar radiation also breaks down collagen and elastin molecules, which are responsible for giving the skin its elasticity.
How to mitigate the effects of solar radiation
Apply sunscreen first thing in the morning and reapply every two hours if exposed to the sun.
Also, you can use physical barriers such as a hat, cap and (why not?) an umbrella!
But the ideal is to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. 15 to 20 minutes a day is enough – and the best way to activate vitamin D.
Dry air
Yes! The humidity of the air (or lack of it) influences the health of your skin. And we’re not just talking about weather conditions, but air conditioning.
Air conditioning dries out the ambient air and, consequently, the skin. Even the most oily ones can suffer damage, as the skin barrier is compromised.
How to mitigate the effects of dry air
In these cases, smart hydration is essential and formulas that stimulate water production and distribute and maintain it, guarantee complete action.
The combination of ingredients such as Pro-vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid in the noblest portion of the molecule (the very tiny one, capable of penetrating all skin layers), marine polysaccharides and amino acids do the trick.
Also, Read : How To Eat Your Way To Healthy & Glowing Skin
Fun Fact
What are the 3 environmental factors?
Environmental factors include temperature, food, pollutants, population density, sound, light, and parasites.
