Premature ageing, Cancer: How Toxic Pollution Is Causing Serious Skin Problems In Delhi NCR

It's that time of the year again. Air pollution has peaked at severe levels- turning Delhi NCR into a 'gas chamber'.

This prolonged hazardous weather is damaging people's skin, as multiple cases of allergies, rashes, and premature ageing have been reported.

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How pollution impacts skin health

Taking to TOI, the dermatology department chief at AIIMS, K K Verma, said that skin is body's protective layer and a compromised barrier (outermost skin layer) can negatively impact its health. He further stated that prolonged inhalation of particulate matter, nitrous oxide, and ozone ages skin and aggravates conditions like eczema, itching and dermatitis. He also highlighted that premature ageing can now be seen in the younger generation in their 40s.

Dr Kabir Sardana, a professor at RML Hospital, said that relevant data showed that air pollutants caused a chemical reaction that released oxygen radicals, causing inflammatory damage to the skin.

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Dr Chandni Jain Gupta of Elantis Healthcare also shared similar views. She said that air pollutants cause damage to the DNA of skin cells, resulting in premature ageing - which further leads to wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, age spots and hair loss. Dr D M Mahajan, a consultant at Indraprastha Apollo hospital, said that pollution depletes the ozone layer and increases the effect of UV rays. Increased exposure to UV rays degrades collagen and elastic fibres - which are essential for keeping skin young. It may lead to allergic disorders such as contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne and skin cancer.

PSRI Hospital consultant, Dr Amit Vij, stated that pollution has affected every age group. Even senior citizens staying indoors are unsafe from pollution hazards as they contaminate indoor and open environments.

What to do about it

While the authorities have yet to tackle this issue efficiently, the onus of protecting their health has again fallen into people's own hands. As per Dr Kabir Sardana, oral drugs - including natural agents like turmeric, giloe or tulsi- should be consumed appropriately to tackle inflammatory damage.

According to a blog in The Economic Times, installation of a good air purifier can ensure minimal damage to your precious lungs and skin. These purifiers are effective because pollution also seeps into every nook and cranny of the interiors.

Additionally, a traditional steam bath is a known solution to ease the skin as it helps lift toxic particles from the skin's surface, preventing the build-up of debris that can cause allergic reactions such as rashes, redness and irritation.

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