How air pollution causes early ageing and ways to prevent it

You might be consistent with your sunscreen and moisturiser and committed to your skincare routine, armed with serums and toners, which should not accelerate ageing faster. But why is it still happening? The culprit is not visible to the naked eye, but it is the outdoor pollution level. Unlike UV damage, which announces itself through skin burns and tanning, air pollution gradually breaks down the skin's barrier, accelerates moisture loss, and compromises the overall skin texture. How? Let’s see.

Certain airborne particles weaken the skin’s natural lipid barrier, allowing moisture to escape and causing dehydration. This makes the skin more vulnerable to dryness, sensitivity, and irritants. It then accelerates skin ageing, making your face look dull, tired, and dark whenever you are outdoors.

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Oxidative stress usually leads to the faster breakdown of collagen and elastin, which are the proteins that keep our skin smooth, firm, and tight. Because of harsh air particles, this process becomes abrupt, resulting in sagging and wrinkles from an early age. This is the reason people start taking collagen before they hit their 30s, which is usually not a good sign.

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Pollution usually triggers low-grade inflammation, which then worsens acne and rosacea conditions, further contributing to redness, uneven skin tone, and severe irritation. Fine particles usually get trapped inside the pores, mixing with oil and dirt, leading to severe blackheads, enlarged pores, and breakouts.

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Start with gentle cleansing twice a day, especially at night, using antioxidant-rich cleansers that remove trapped pollutants. Next, apply serum with vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide, or green tea extracts, which usually neutralises the free radicals. Then, start using moisturisers that have ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which then strengthen the skin barrier. Gently exfoliate the skin and then remove the buildup without leading to irritation.