Air Quality in North America Is Worsening—Here's How to Protect Your Skin

glamour.com:

, with . According to the , conditions are projected to linger for the next few days due to stagnant weather systems and could even spread further west by Thursday.

Public health officials are and to avoid smoke particle inhalation, particularly for high-risk individuals with asthma and cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.

Dermatologists also warn that poor air quality exposure can have adverse effects on your skin. “Air quality has a direct relationship with quality of skin,” board-certified dermatologist , tells Glamour. “Small particles of toxic material and pollution can cause significant amounts of free-radical damage to skin, accelerating aging and increasing inflammatory flares such as rosacea, eczema, even worsening acne.”, board-certified dermatologist and founder of , says that wildfire smoke and air pollution was a pressing topic at the 2023 conference. “There was discussion around a new study showing increased dermatology appointments for eczema and psoriasis [as air quality worsens,]” he says. “There was also an increase in oral and injectable medications prescribed for eczema which could indicate an increase in severity.

Speaking more broadly, with increased environmental pollutants, it would not be surprising to see more clogged pores and potential free radical damage.” Ahead, Dr.