Smog impact on skin and hair, protection tips

WEB DESK: SMOG, which includes harmful substances like soot, smoke, and acidic particles, can wreak havoc on your skin and hair.

These pollutants steal moisture, leading to skin problems, allergies, and pigmentation issues. Let’s delve into how smog affects our skin and hair and explore simple ways to protect ourselves.

Effects on skin and hair

Smog can leave your hair feeling itchy and greasy. It also impacts the deeper layers of your skin, leading to collagen breakdown, increased pigmentation, fine lines, open pores, wrinkles, and chronic inflammation.

Exposure to pollutants can even accelerate skin aging and premature graying of hair.

Factors to consider

Our skin and hair face numerous challenges daily, from environmental pollutants to personal choices like hair coloring, straightening, and heavy makeup use.

Read More: The price of beauty: which aesthetic procedures are worth the investment?

The regular use of makeup and heat styling tools can harm your hair and skin. However, adopting a healthy skincare routine can make a significant difference.

Self-care tips

To combat the intense impact of smog, consider these self-help strategies:

1. Thorough skin cleansing

Cleansing with face washes can help remove the accumulated debris. For oily skin, one can use a facial scrub after the cleansing is done.

According to experts, one should look out for products with ingredients like sandalwood, eucalyptus, mint, tulsi, neem, aloe vera, Zinc sulfate, glyceryl, lactic acid and potassium sorbate, glycolic acid or skin lightening fruit actives fortified with specific emollients when as they are anti-toxic and their tonic properties help in clearing the skin congestion and eruptions which result from exposure to the direct chemical pollutants.

2. Don’t skip toners

After you wipe off your skin, using a rose-based or rose-water toner is important to refresh your skin completely. It also improves blood circulation to the surface of the skin therefore, adding a glow.

3. Use anti-pollutants

Such products will protect your skin against the damage that has been caused to your skin. These are basically “cover creams” that work in a manner to create a barrier between the skin and pollutants which is useful to protect the skin from environmental effects.

4. Eye care

We often forget the most important yet sensitive area of our face, that is, our eyes. Eyes must be washed with plain water several times.

Soak cotton pads in chilled rose water and lay them over the eyes as eye pads for nearly fifteen minutes. One should use sunglasses to avoid sun exposure to your skin.

5. Hair Protection:

Whenever you step out always keep your hair covered with a scarf or hat in order to keep it safe from direct contact with air-pollutants and dust. Keep them secured or tie it back with a hairband.

6. Hot oil therapy

Give your scalp a moment to breathe with hot oil therapy. You can use any oil suitable for your hair then dip a towel in hot water. Don’t forget to squeeze out the water before wrapping it around your head, like a turban.

Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the procedure 3 or 4 times. Post hot hair oil therapy, wash your hair within 1-2 hours with a ph-balanced shampoo.

7. Hair spa/deep conditioning

To attain back those lustrous strands, deep conditioning is required during this time. Deep conditioning can bring back the hydration and moisture which was lost in your hair earlier and got drenched due to pollution.

Regular spa treatments maintain the lost moisture and natural scalp oil which is essential to keep your locks nourished.

In conclusion, don’t forget to cover your face with a mask to avoid pollutant air entering into your mouth directly, also cover your hair whenever possible to avoid direct contact with dust and pollution.

For severe skin or hair issues, seek guidance from a certified dermatologist. Remember, your beauty has a purpose, and that purpose is you. Let your skin and hair breathe freely with these straightforward tips to minimise the negative effects of smog.