The best way to tackle a skin problem is by understanding its nature. You can blame stress and genetics all you want but certain skin issues such as premature aging, acne, dryness and skin rashes can all be the result of environmental factors. If you are a city dweller and your skin is constantly exposed to pollution the chances of skin problems getting aggravated are higher.

Here are four ways in which pollution affects your skin:

 

Automobiles

Automobiles

Harmful chemicals emitted from car exhaust can have potentially damaging effects on your skin as well as your internal health. Some particles are so tiny that they easily penetrate the skin and disrupt its barrier, thereby speeding up signs of aging such as wrinkles, dark spots and fine lines.

 

Smog

Smog

A mix of low level ozone such as dust, soot and smoke, smog is the biggest culprit of free-radical damage. It robs your skin of oxygen supply thereby making it look dull, aged and tired. If you think relocating to a greener area will help, here’s what we found: air pollution affects both urban and rural areas. Therefore, developing a good skincare routine can protect skin from this damage.

 

Gaseous pollutants

Gaseous pollutants

Human skin is designed to act as a biological shield against external pollutants, however, repetitive and prolonged exposure to pollution has negative effects on the skin. Gases released from chemical and petroleum refineries, cigarette smoke and others don’t penetrate the skin first, instead they damage the surface layer of the skin and eventually enter your body to cause further damage.

 

Small particulate matter

Small particulate matter

Often referred to as nanoparticles, small particulate matter is so tiny that it easily penetrates into the pores and gets trapped there with oil and grime. This aggravates ongoing skin problems and also invites issues that didn’t exist before.