As mentioned before, we have multiple offices located throughout New York and New Jersey. There are tons of benefits to being located in a bustling city, but living and working here can sometimes wreak havoc on your skin. There are many different types of air pollutants in major cities, from construction and building sites to public transportation, if you live in the city then the presence of pollutants is constant threat to your skin.
What is my skin up against living in a city?
Weather – Hot or cold, the weather can take a major toll on your skin. During summer months, sweat can lead to impurities getting absorbed into the skin. While harsh winters cause excessively dry skin.
Dirt and Air Pollution – The prolonged exposure to air pollutants from cars, trains and buses can lead to major skin irritations. Dust, smog and dirt can also clog your pores making it easy for acne to surface.
What can happen as a result of this?
TWO WORDS – Free Radicals. These unstable molecules are mainly attributed to the rapid aging of skin. It is actually quite hard to avoid them because they develop in response to many environmental stressors. Many different cells are susceptible to free radical damage, but oxygen is the most susceptible. These unstable free radicals can cause a multitude of skin care problems ranging from collagen breakdown to increases in fine lines, acne, hyper-pigmentation and more – making it visibly impossible to miss.
What can I do to fix or reverse it?
- Eat correctly – Eating your way to better skin is possible! A key ingredient in fighting free radicals is antioxidants. They can be found in many foods and skin care products available on the market. Be on the lookout for vitamins: A, C and E. You probably already guessed what foods are high in these vitamins…we may sound like a mom right now but, fruits and vegetables are VERY important.
- Use specific skin care products – Protecting your skin is the most important thing you can do, this includes using the right products. As mentioned before antioxidants play a major role in combating free radicals. Using creams, serums and mists with antioxidant ingredients in combination with your other moisturizers can not only help create a barrier for your skin from harmful environmental factors, but also fight free radicals. Sunscreen is extremely important for its obvious role of protecting you from UVA and UVB rays but it also helps in creating that barrier between your skin and outside elements.
- Drink lots of water – Among its other health benefits drinking water is also really good for your skin. Drinking plenty of water helps keep skin hydrated and helps your body flush out waste.
- Wash your face before bed – It is so important for everyone to wash their faces before going to bed every night. Make-up or not, washing your face gets rid of the environmental factors that your skin came into contact with that day. If possible try to incorporate an exfoliating scrub into your routine to aggressively get rid of impurities.
- Speak to a dermatologist about treatment options – Many times the damage is done before you know it. Treatments like, Thermage, Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant, even dermal fillers can help reverse the aging and damage that can come from prolonged exposure to pollutants and the sun.
For more information on treatment options to rejuvenate your skin, visit our website or contact one of our cosmetic concierges.