There are many things that can improve or hinder your skin health. Everything from what you eat to how hydrated you are can either leave you with a healthy glow or cause your skin to look dry and dull.
However, you might not realize how much indoor air quality could be affecting your skin health, too. If you spend a lot of time at home, work, or school, and the air quality is bad, it could negatively affect your skin and appearance.
Air pollutants, including everything from cigarette smoke to pesticides, can lead to aging, atopic dermatitis, acne, and even skin cancer.
Therefore, make an investment in the best air purifier dehumidifier to combat the effects of poor indoor air quality. Dehumidifiers purify indoor air and improve the home environment and contribute to healthy skin.
Testing and Controlling Air Quality
If you’ve been having issues like skin irritation, itching, redness, or even acne, it could be the result of poor indoor air conditions. Unclean indoor air can trigger your allergy symptoms, be harmful to those with respiratory issues, and it can even cause your skin to become irritated and itchy if you’re allergic to dust and dander.
One of the best ways to make sure your air is clean is to run an air quality test.
You can find indoor air quality monitors online or at hardware stores. They are used to keep track of:
- Temperature
- Mold growth
- Humidity
- Airborne chemicals
Most importantly, most monitors will alert you if the air quality is poor and it’s necessary to take action.
You can control the quality of your air and the pollutants in your home by investing in an air purifier or humidifier. You can also invest in some indoor plants that are known to clean the air. Pothos, English Ivy, and Chinese Evergreen are some of the best natural purifiers.
Between monitoring the quality and adjusting your purification systems, you’ll create a more ideal indoor environment for your skin, and everyone in your home will be able to breathe a bit easier.
Dealing With Dry Air
If you live in an area that deals with harsh winters or dry air, don’t assume that your skin is “protected” just because you’re indoors. When things are dry and cold outside, it can impact your skin health even when you’re inside.
You might try to combat the cold by turning up the heat in your home. However, that’s a dry heat, which will lower the humidity levels in your home. Without enough moisture in the air, your skin can quickly dry out.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to improve the humidity levels, no matter how dry it is outside. First, make sure everything is sealed properly. Cracks in windows, doors, or walls can let dry air in, or cause you to turn your heat up even higher.
Second, consider installing a humidifier. Even turning on a small humidifier while you sleep at night can help to hydrate your skin and give it a dewy glow. Keep in mind, however, that too much humidity can cause harm, too, leading to clogged pores. Despite the cultural phenomenon of pimple popping, most people want clear, acne-free skin. Try to keep the humidity between 30-50%.
In addition to making changes within your home, it’s a good idea to change up your skincare routine so it specifically targets dry skin.
Protecting Your Skin With the Right Routine
Having a cold-weather skincare routine is just the start. If your indoor air quality isn’t where it should be and you can’t do much about it (especially at work or school), the next best thing is to be proactive with your skin protection.
If you want to protect your skin from pollutants in the air, try incorporating these steps into your daily routine:
- Use a gentle cleanser
- Apply an anti-pollution skin cream
- Apply sunscreen
- Use a moisturizer twice a day
- Exfoliate to encourage skin cells to regenerate
In addition to adding the right products and methods to your skincare routine, it’s important to take care of yourself from the inside out. Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy diet are all great ways to strengthen your skin and leave it looking healthy, youthful, and bright.
Keep in mind that there’s no such thing as flawless skin. Your goal shouldn’t be to get rid of every blemish or every mark that makes you who you are. Rather, it should be to protect your skin from indoor pollutants, no matter where you spend most of your day. Healthy skin is beautiful skin.
Unfortunately, there are pollutants everywhere. If you have control over space, like your home, do what you can to create an ideal indoor environment for your skin, and your overall well-being. If you can’t control the environment you’re in, make sure you’re doing everything you can to protect your skin and give it what it needs to fight back against the allergens in the air.
