SKIN'S SHIELD

As the air quality plummets, here's how to navigate the intense pollution wave for your skin's well-being

- KONIKA DATTA

For the last few months, India’s critical air quality and the abysmal AQI levels have become a heated topic of discussion nationwide. The air quality not only affects our physical health, but is also a major concern for skin health. Numerous studies have claimed that these toxins can contribute to skin cancer, psoriasis, skin ageing, and eczema, amongst others, as we don’t just breathe airborne pollutants; we absorb them through our skin as well. In fact, being exposed to air pollution, containing gases like particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide, lead, sulfur oxides, and carbon monoxide disrupts the skin’s protective layer. If you haven’t grasped yet the pitfalls of pollution, think of the thick film of dirt on car windows or the black smoke coming out of factories to get an understanding of what your skin is really fighting against.

We dig deeper into what pollution is exactly doing to your skin, the flip side of ‘antipollution’ skincare, and the expert-backed ways to tackle the damaging effects of this toxic air on the largest organ of our body.

FACT CHECKING

Our skin barrier contains lipids and ceramides that bind skin cells together. When air pollutants come into contact with the skin, they generate free radicals, leading to a damaged skin barrier and a host of skincare concerns. Dr. Jaishree Sharad, celebrity dermatologist and medical director at Skinfinitii Aesthetic & Laser Clinic, Mumbai, agrees and further explains, “Polluted air causes oxidative damage to the skin cells due to this increase in free radicals, causing allergic rashes, itching, blotchy skin, and skin sensitivity.”