Air pollution is wreaking havoc on your skin. Simple steps to mitigate the problems associated with pollution include gentle cleansing, topical products to reduce oxidative stress and to restore barrier function.

Whether it’s jet fuel, leaded fuel for non-jet aircraft, auto exhaust, forest fires, wars such as Iraq, Gaza, and the Ukraine, or industrial fumes as causative factors, “the estimated lifetime prevalence of atopic dermatitis has increased 2~3 fold during over the past 30 years, especially in urban areas in industrialized countries, emphasizing the importance of life-style and environment in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases” (Kim, 2015). “Atopic dermatitis (AD) has increased in prevalence to become the most common inflammatory skin condition globally, and geographic variation and migration studies suggest an important role for environmental triggers” (Fadadu et al, 2023).

Air pollution can make people more sensitive to other allergens by eliciting an immune system hyper-response. This can degrade the skin’s barrier function, and now that immune system hyper-alert signaling is more exposed to the outside world and even more sensitive. Essentially, air pollution is opening up the skin by degrading it’s barrier, and making that contact between the skin’s immune system and the environment more robust. Air pollution is a catalyst in a chemical reaction, as scientists at the Max Planck Institute have written, “Fine particulate matter catalyzes oxidative stress.” The key, air pollution is causing oxidative stress in the skin, leading to chronic inflammation, a root cause in many inflammatory skin conditions, including eczema.

The illustration shows the health effects of atmospheric air pollution. The model simulations of Thomas Berkemeier and his team suggest that PM2.5 acts by conversion of a reservoir of reactive oxygen species (such as peroxides) into highly reactive OH radicals. these reactions take place in the epithelial tissue fluid, which is a thin aqueous film in the lungs and skin in which air pollutants dissolve or deposit.

For day-to-day protection from modern man’s air and water pollution and climate change (think increased fires), use air filters for the home and use mineral sunscreens with zinc or titanium, which create a physical barrier that makes it more difficult for airborne pollutants to come into direct contact with the skin. It’s also important to have a good cleansing regime. Wash the pollutants off at night with a gentle cleanser, use a product that reduces the oxidative stress, and then put on a fragrance-free hypoallergenic moisturizer containing free fatty acids, ceramide, and cholesterol that will help the skin barrier heal overnight.