Climate Change Skin Defense

As humans continue to ignore the rapid degeneration of our planet due to irresponsible manufacturing, food production, and many other toxic practices, the best defense is adaptation. This means that as our earthly protections begin to weaken (ozone, oceans, rainforests, etc.), we must strengthen our immune system to mitigate climate change damage. One major way to do this is by reinforcing your first responder, your skin. This, the largest organ of the body, is front and center when it comes to toxic exposure which, over time, can accumulate into potentially serious conditions such as cancer. Although there can be immediate concern such as skin cell death due to powerful sunrays, the main concern should be how your body will be affected in the future.

Explored here are some examples of possible risks your skin may encounter and a few ways to prevent potential damage to skin cells and possibly deeper targets as well.  

How Climate Change May Affect Your Skin

It is important to literally think out of the box when it comes to how climate change may affect your skin. This means taking into account a variety of factors before you consider that something else may be the cause. The major sources of how outside forces could affect the health of your skin are:

• Ozone layer depletion – Much advancement has been made on closing the ozone hole caused by hydro-chlorofluorocarbons from aerosol spray can use that has since been discontinued. However, there is still an ozone layer breach allowing many dangerous sun rays to permeate our atmosphere and damage skin cells with the potential of skin cancer risk.
• Flooding – As sea levels rise so does the danger of flooding. When there is a rapid water influx many health risks can occur with the skin be affected first such as mold spores and infectious disease.
• Pollen – Climate change creates havoc amongst nature as there is no steady stream of seasonal developments. Instead, normal responses by such things as surrounding flora and bee communities could create excess pollen as well as bee colony collapse when threatened by climate change. Pollen sicks to skin and clothes and can cause rashes as well as excessive allergic reactions.
• Excessive heat and humidity – Your skin can only take so much heat and humidity before it begins to negatively react.
• Pollution – With threatened air quality comes stagnant and high particle pollution with your skin front and center to all the toxicity it entails. Healthline reported, “According to a 2021 review, these nanoparticles, also known as PM2.5, penetrate the epidermis and may pass through the skin via follicles and glands. Exposure to traffic emissions demonstrated a 20 percent increase in pigmented facial lesions.”

With these and other ways our earth is reacting to excessive fossil fuel use, toxic factory farming and mountains of methane bubbling waste (to name a few) it is no wonder humans may be struggling with various skin compromises including:

• Acne
• Premature aging
• Rashes, hives, eczema and psoriasis
• Slow wound healing
• Lack of hydration and collagen production
• Infectious disease side effects
• Skin cancer

The list may be somewhat alarming but, when the right choices are made, your body is a powerhouse of high health capability. Try some climate change skin defense techniques that just may save your skin as the climate batters it daily.

4 Tips to Protect Your Skin

If you follow these 4 tips to protect your skin there is a chance you decrease some of the skin related compromises mentioned above.

Protective Clothing – Covering your skin will help protect from harmful ultraviolet rays. Consider materials that now advertise being able to reflect these rays sold under UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 30 or more.

Multiple Boost – Taking specific supplements for skin strength could go a long way. Good choices include:

• Vitamin C and E combo for UV inflammation protection
• Selenium for premature aging
• Oral probiotic to strengthen skin immune response

Slather Sunscreen – Without sunscreen on your face, neck (front and back), and ears you could be taking a big health risk. Use 30 SPF or higher with many companies offering gentle, everyday use face cream with SPF in it.

Published in the Journal of Investigative Medicine, Italian researchers concluded in their study of SPF stating,

“Our data revealed that topical application of a sunscreen containing inorganic filters (50+SPF) and 0.1% octatrienoic acid [a polyunsaturated fatty acid] can protect from SBC formation, reduce the number of apoptotic keratinocytes and protect from the main molecular alterations caused by UV radiations.”

Antioxidant Bulk – Keeping a daily influx of antioxidant rich foods and supplements can go a long way in climate change skin defense.

The study titled ‘Dietary Antioxidant Capacity and Skin Photoaging: A 15-Year Longitudinal Study’ published in The Journal Of Investigative Dermatology stated,

“In the 15-year study period, the overall prevalence of severe skin photoaging increased from 42% at baseline to 88%. Adults aged >45 years who consumed foods with high antioxidant capacity experienced approximately 10% less photoaging over 15 years than those who ate foods with low antioxidant capacity. [] Foods rich in antioxidants as measured by antioxidant capacity may retard skin aging among healthy men and women aged >45 years.” 

Use these climate change skin defense tactics to adapt to the new world we have created filled with all sorts of risks due to human consumption. Keep your skin strong and ready to deflect.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-climate-change-can-impact-the-health-of-your-skin-plus-what-to-do-about-it?&utm_source=hl&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=sept_skincare&utm_term=thisjustin#protect-your-skin

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34531252/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32682911/