The skin is our body’s first layer of defense. It prevents harmful microorganisms from entering our body and protects us from infections and a number of other ailments. The fast-paced, urban lifestyle many of us lead today, however, takes a toll on our skin health. From the pollutants in the air we breathe to the toxic additives in the food we eat, there are a number of things that can have a detrimental effect on our skin.
In this article, we take a look at the effects of toxins on the skin and discuss how you can reverse the same and take care of your skin.
Effects of Environmental Pollution on Your Skin
It is, without a doubt, one of the primary causes of premature aging among majority of the population. Constant exposure to exhaust fumes, smoke, and dust can flare up inflammation, which affects collagen production in your skin. As a result, your skin becomes loose and starts developing fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. The particulate matter present in exhaust fumes can also worsen skin problems like eczema and hives.
Alarming levels of pollution has resulted in a depleted ozone layer, which means you are constantly exposed to ultraviolet radiation, which in turn can accelerate the process of inflammation and hyperpigmentation.
Research also shows that exposure to smog and industrial gases can deplete vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that can protect your skin from harmful free radicals. As a result, your skin succumbs to the harmful effects of inflammation and free radical damage, which leads to premature aging.
Toxins in Food and Their Effect on Your Skin
The food that we eat today, particularly processed food, contains a wide range of additives like emulsifiers, colors, flavor enhancers, firming agents, and preservatives, among others. While these additives enhance the shelf life of processed food, they can lead to a number of skin problems and make your skin age faster as well.
How to Protect Your Skin from Pollutants?
As bad as environmental pollution is, there are still things you can do to protect your skin from its negative effects. Simple things like cleaning your face regularly with a mild cleanser and avoiding cosmetics with artificial ingredients can go a long way in avoiding skin problems. Also, it is important avoid processed food and eat a well balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oily fish. Regular exercise can also help you sweat out the toxins in your body and improve your skin health.
Cosmetic Treatments for Aging
There are a number of cosmetic procedures available to treat skin problems like acne and wrinkles and reverse the effects of premature aging. From simple procedure like derma fillers and dermabrasion to highly sophisticated procedures like fractional CO2 laser treatment to remove acne scars and stretch marks, there are a number of options available for you to treat your skin problems and improve your skin health.
It is equally important to choose a skin clinic that can treat your skin problems in a safe and effective manner. Athena Skin & Laser Clinic is located in the Tri-city region of Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. With the highly qualified and experienced Doctor Harmandeep Sidhu as the Chief Dermatologist, you can rest assured that you will get the best possible treatment for all your skin problems. Doctor Sidhu is among region’s Chandigarh top hair and skin specialists and a qualified (M.D) dermatologist.