WELL-BEING | ENVIRONMENT
Air pollution doesn’t only disrupt internal organs such as the lungs and heart, but also affects the body’s largest organ—our skin. A recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health suggests that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may be linked to skin redness.

Poor air quality, particularly fine particles like PM2.5, has been associated with various health problems, but the effects on skin health have been insufficiently studied. These particles can cause serious health issues as they penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Their correlation with visible skin conditions like redness is of particular concern. Skin redness, or erythema, is a visible sign of underlying inflammation or irritation and is generally considered an indicator of compromised skin health. It can result from various factors, such as exposure to environmental pollutants like PM2.5, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, or other irritants that disrupt the skin’s protective barrier.

The study aimed to examine the relationship between exposure to PM2.5 particles and skin redness, with a focus on the role of sebum production in different age groups. The analysis included 472 participants (240 individuals aged 20 to 59 years, and 232 individuals over 60 years). The levels of exposure to fine particles were estimated using computational models based on participants’ residential locations.

Researchers, led by Dr. Fu-Yu Chan from National Taiwan University, observed a positive correlation between PM2.5 levels and the area of skin redness in both age groups. In fact, for participants aged 20 to 59 years, each unit increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 1.70 unit increase in the area of redness. For individuals over 60 years, the increase was even larger—2.63 units. Regarding skin porphyries, a relationship was found between these and skin redness in individuals aged 20 to 59 years. However, no significant relationship was found in those over 60 years.

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The Three Worst Cities for Our Skin Worldwide – Athens’ Position

The findings suggest that the interaction between lipophilic and carcinogenic substances in fine particles and skin porphyries could increase levels of redness and potentially raise the risk of chronic skin conditions and skin cancer. The authors recommend that public health authorities implement annual skin health screenings, using skin redness as a potential indicator of PM2.5 exposure, to encourage further evaluation of the broader impacts of air pollution on health.

Athens Among the Worst Cities for Skin

A previous study analyzed various factors such as UV index, pollutant levels, and sunlight duration to identify the cities considered most harmful to skin health. Athens ranked third globally, with higher levels of air pollution, including significant concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10.

The capital of Ontario, Toronto, was found to be the worst city for skin health, according to the same study. On the other hand, the best cities for skin were Reykjavik, Iceland, Oslo, and Stockholm. High pollution can also contribute to clogged pores and skin inflammation, ultimately accelerating the aging process.