Abstract
The increase of air pollution over the years has major effects on the human skin. The skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and environmental air pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxides, particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3) and cigarette smoke. Although human skin acts as a biological shield against pro-oxidative chemical and physical air pollutants, the prolonged or repetitive exposure to high levels of these pollutants may have profound negative effects on the skin. Exposure of the skin to air pollutants has been associated with skin aging and inflammatory or allergic skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis or acne, while skin cancer is among the most serious effects. On the other hand, some air pollutants (ie, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide) and scattering particulates (clouds and soot) in the troposphere reduce the effects of shorter wavelength UVR and significant reductions in UV irradiance have been observed in polluted urban areas.
Highlights
The human skin, and mainly the upper layer of the epidermis, plays the role of a barrier, but is one of the first and major targets of air pollutants
Heavy cigarette smokers were 4.7 times more likely to have facial wrinkles than non-smokers, independent of sun exposure (Kadunce et al, 1991; Freiman et al, 2004), the combination of smoking and sun exposure may have a synergistic effect on skin aging
Considerable effects mediated by air pollutants on the human skin may contribute to skin aging, atopic dermatitis, skin cancer, psoriasis, and acne
Summary
Reviewed by: Charitomeni Vavouli, Andreas Sygros University Hospital, Greece Margherita Premuda, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (CNR-ISAC), Italy. The increase of air pollution over the years has major effects on the human skin. The skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and environmental air pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxides, particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), and cigarette smoke. Human skin acts as a biological shield against pro-oxidative chemical and physical air pollutants, the prolonged or repetitive exposure to high levels of these pollutants may have profound negative effects on the skin.
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