Protecting your skin from harmful pollution

Air pollution is the mostly invisible threat that tends to reach its peak in cities during summer. It refers to all the particles or gases that are released into the air by human activity, including:

1. Exhaust fumes from cars.

2. Zigarettenrauch.

3. Fumes released from factories.

4. Mikroplastik.

5. Aerosols.

Can air pollution affect skin?  

Polluted air can get into your lungs, causing damage and Asthma auslösen. Your external appearance can also suffer. Although less serious than the health effects of inhaling toxic particles, your skin can become damaged and aged.  

Dr Sophie Momen, skin specialist at the Cadogan Clinic, explains: "Some particles in pollution can pass through your skin and induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Your body has various antioxidant mechanisms, which essentially mop up these ROS.   

"Wenn jedoch zu viele ROS und zu wenige Antioxidantien vorhanden sind, tritt ein sogenannter oxidativer Stress auf. Oxidativer Stress beeinträchtigt die Funktion der Zellen und führt in der Haut zu einer geschädigten Hautbarriere, Entzündungen und Alterungsprozessen – feine Linien, Falten und Pigmentierung."

Studien haben gezeigt, dass eine langfristige Exposition gegenüber Luftschadstoffen wie Ozon auch die Haut der gesundheitsfördernden Antioxidantien, Vitamine C und E, entzieht¹. These support things like Kollagen production, wound healing, and recovery from UV-(Ultraviolett-)Schäden after sun exposure. 

This kind of damage may also cause skin conditions, including Akne, Ekzem und Psoriasis². These problems come with their own set of symptoms that can affect your quality of life, causing soreness, pain, and low self-esteem in many cases.  

Does SPF protect against air pollution?  

Dr Momen says: "If your SPF-Sonnenschutz contains antioxidants  - such as green tea, vitamin E, or vitamin C - then it may help mop up ROS to reduce harmful oxidative stress."

However, there's a need for more studies in this area. The skin specialist also adds that the filters in general SPF sunscreens that protect against UV radiation in sunlight will not protect against ROS produced from pollution.  

Does make up protect skin from air pollution?  

The same rule applies to your make up. Only products containing antioxidants that promote healthy skin could be considered potentially helpful and protective. No matter how much you pay, or how thickly you spread it on your face, air pollutant particles that are small enough can pass through your make up and into your skin. 

1. Parrado et al: Umweltfaktoren beim Hautalterungsprozess. Mechanistische Einblicke.  

2. Roberts: Luftverschmutzung und Hauterkrankungen.  

3. Jurek und Newmann: Überblick über die aktuellen Fortschritte in den Anti-Pollution-Hautpflegeformulierungen: Fokus auf Immunmodulation und mikrobiologische Präparate.