Delhi’s air pollution is reaching worrying levels every day, air pollution is being recorded in the severe category at most of the stations. With the increase in AQI levels, it is important to understand the distressing effects the air has on the health of people breathing it. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Gunjan Verma, Consultant – Dermatology, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi, explains its effects on the skin.
Also read: Doctor reveals the worst effects of air pollution on health, warns: ‘If your exposure is more than 4 hours…’
Effect of air pollution on skin:
“Pollutants can enter the skin through direct accumulation on the surface, absorption through hair follicles, inhalation, ingestion and circulation of pollutants in plasma, which then diffuse into deeper dermal tissues. These pollutants penetrate the skin through nanoparticles and generate quinones, which are redox-cycling chemicals that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Air pollution can also cause oxidative stress,” said Dr Gunjan Verma. It can trigger conditions like acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis. There is also a tendency for problems like lentigo, melasma and photoaging to increase.
Also read: Toxic air alert: How can polluted air harm your health from heart to brain?
Skin Care Tips to Stay Safe:
a healthy diet: To combat the effects of pollution, it is advised to consume high antioxidant-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals resulting from toxic air pollutants entering the body. Thus, a diet rich in antioxidants may help protect against damage caused by air pollution.
Also read: How to protect hair from air pollution if your city has bad AQI?
clean skin regularly:Cleansing the skin is an important part of an anti-pollution skin regimen because airborne pollutants can stick to the skin and weaken the skin barrier, making it more susceptible to UV damage, dryness, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation .
Also read: Delhi’s toxic air is back: 8 tips to protect the health of your lungs, kids and family amid ‘very poor’ AQI alert
wear a mask: It is advised to wear a mask and cover your mouth when going out and do not go out unless necessary. With respect to skin cancer, the pollutants that react most notably with the skin are UV radiation, VOCs, heavy metals, and O3. UV radiation – a physical pollutant – is thought to be the primary factor responsible for most skin cancers in humans.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.
