Bad indoor air quality typically comes from a combination of poor ventilation and contaminants from popular products that you use every day. Although you might not realize it, your skin often serves as your body’s first line of defense against these indoor pollutants. Fight premature aging and other skin health risks by using these three methods to improve your indoor air quality and protect yourself and your family.
Harsh Chemicals Contribute to Skin Ailments
Polluted indoor air can increase the skin’s free radicals, causing many persistent skin problems, including itching and dryness. Free radicals block your body’s ability to produce the collagen that your skin needs to stay healthy. Pollutants also disrupt your skin’s natural ability to stay hydrated, resulting in dry, clogged, and aging skin.
To decrease contaminants in your home’s air, try using plant-based or all-natural products to clean surfaces and eliminate odors without the harsh chemicals. Lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar are natural ingredients and powerful cleaning agents that are safer for your skin. Baking soda removes stains in the bathroom and kitchen, while vinegar cleanses and tackles tough odors. Lemon juice leaves a pleasant aroma in your home.
Dry Air Negatively Impacts Skin Health
Dry indoor air can take a major toll on your health, causing uncomfortable eye and skin irritations. Dryness can become a particularly serious problem during the winter, when the relative humidity level in your home could drop from 40 percent to a low of 10 percent.
Many heating systems naturally decrease indoor humidity levels, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop using your furnace or heat pump to get relief from dry air. Instead, consider installing a humidifier in your home. Portable humidifiers can address dry air in isolated areas, while a whole-house dehumidifier can offer relief throughout your home. Talk with your HVAC technician about the right dehumidifier for your heating system to improve humidity levels and skin health year round.
Poor Air Quality Causes Inflammation
Indoor toxins from flame retardants, ink-jet printers, foam insulation, and wood particles can wreak havoc on your body’s exterior organ. In a 2009 study, French scientists discovered a link between rashes and air pollution, noting that complaints of eczema and dermatitis can result from dangerous ozone levels and air particles. These pollutants can also contribute to rashes and skin irritation as well as inflammation that can prematurely age your skin.
To reduce those harmful particles in your home, make a habit of dusting with a damp cloth or vacuuming thoroughly. To remove almost all contaminants, including pollen, pet dander, and dust, consider investing in an air purifier that can clear the air and improve your skin’s health.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ranks indoor air pollution as one of the five primary public health risks. In some instances, indoor toxins can be significantly more dangerous than outdoor pollutants. Boost your skin’s health by increasing humidity, decreasing toxins, and using natural cleaning products to create a safe home environment.
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