Skin in the City: Pollution

Let’s talk about pollution for your skin, and what can you do about it. We all know how pollution affects the environment, but have you ever considered how it impacts your skin? As the temperatures are rising, and summer in pending – we need to be more aware of how to protect the skin from pollution, in major cities. 

The truth is that pollution can wreak havoc on your skin, causing damage that can lead to premature aging, irritations, and other skin problems. Our busy city lifestyles, traveling on busy subway lines or walking traffic-congested streets, leave us highly exposed to this threat. Living in “clean” western cities may lead us to believe that we are exempt from experiencing pollution impacts; however, the truth could not be further from the facts.

New guidelines from the World Health Organization mean that almost everyone on the planet (99%) breathes air that exceeds air quality limits and threatens their health. Pollutants such as Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Sulfur Dioxide are all outputs of vehicle emissions and fuel combustion. While these emissions are limited by law, their effects on your skin can build up with prolonged exposure. Other pollutants such as Lead, Ozone, and PM2.5 can come from various industrial activities, waste management, and agricultural activities and are not only present in densely populated areas.

These air pollution particles interact negatively with our skin in a variety of ways.

1. Generation of free radicals: Pollutants interact with our skin, oxidizing molecules that allow the skin to function, causing skin dysfunction.

   
   
2. Causing skin inflammation: Pollutants cause the skin to send signals to cells to produce self-destruct enzymes. These chemicals break down your collagen and elastin, causing visible impacts.

   
   
3. Negative impacts of the skin microbiome: Skin contains a sensitive balance of bacteria that helps keep skin healthy. Pollutants interrupt this balance, depleting good bacteria and proliferating harmful bacteria.

All this sound very doom and gloom, but don’t worry; fjör has the solution for you. The fjör hydrolytic serum is a new and exciting way to protect your skin. The serum creates an impenetrable barrier to pollutants, protecting your skin throughout the day. The hydrolytic enzyme deactivates bacteria, viruses, and fungi on the skin while keeping the skin’s natural microbiota thriving. It reduces inflammation and redness, strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, and deeply hydrates the skin. It is also a mild exfoliant that gently removes dead cells from the skin’s surface, leaving the skin smooth, fresh, and radiant.