Air pollution may be linked to eczema

It appears that PM2.5 may interact with our skin's immune responses in ways we are only beginning to understand.

- Samuel J. White and Philippe B. Wilson

If you live in a city or near a busy road, it might not be just your lungs bearing the brunt of air pollution—your skin could be suffering too. A recent study has found a significant link between high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and incidence of eczema—a chronic inflammatory skin condition marked by itching, redness and discomfort.

The research, conducted on more than 280,000 people across the US, revealed that people exposed to higher concentrations of PM2.5 were more than twice as likely to have eczema compared with those in less polluted areas.

This study sheds new light on how our external environment may affect our skin health and raises questions about how we can protect ourselves as pollution levels climb.

PARTICULATE MATTER AND SKIN HEALTH

PM2.5 is shorthand for particulate matter that is less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. These particles are so small that you would need a microscope to see them—yet they have significant health risks.

Emitted from sources such as cars, industrial sites and even wildfire smoke, these tiny particles contain harmful chemicals—including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These chemicals are carcinogenic and have been linked to respiratory, cardiovascular and developmental health issues.

Although we have a good understanding of the significant effect PM2.5 has on the health of our lungs, scientists are only just beginning to uncover all the ways these particles affect the health of our skin.