Weather and pollution are among the factors that can affect the development of acne. Along with other factors such as hormonal changes, family history, and stress, people who live in hot and humid climates or areas with high air pollution may be at a higher risk of developing acne. Understanding the relationship between weather, pollution, and acne may help prevent acne breakouts due to these factors.
Weather and acne
Humid weather
When the environment is humid during the rainy season or in hot and humid weather conditions, there is a chance that acne or acne will become more severe. It may be understood that humidity keeps the skin moist, which is essential for good skin condition. However, being in humid weather conditions causes sweating . When sweat combines with dead cells and dust, it causes the pores to become clogged. Humidity can stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce excess oil. The combination of oil, dead cells and dust causes the pores to become clogged. When clogged, it causes acne and slows down the skin’s healing process from acne.
Therefore, it is important to keep your skin clean after sweating. Cleanse your skin with a gentle product and warm water. Use a special cleanser for your face and body.
Dry weather conditions
Dry weather combined with cold weather can wreak havoc on the skin. When the dry season comes, the skin becomes drier, causing the sebaceous glands to secrete more oil to protect and maintain the skin’s moisture. In addition, when the skin is dry, the top layer of skin may flake off. The large number of skin cells combined with excess oil clog the pores, which leads to acne breakouts.
Therefore, it is important to keep your skin moisturized and maintain the balance of oil and water. When your skin is well moisturized, dead skin cells and excess oil will be reduced.
Hot weather
In hot weather, you may sweat more, and sweat can trigger breakouts, so it’s important to cleanse your skin regularly to reduce excess oil and sweat, and you may want to use a cream that contains salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide to help prevent heat-related breakouts.
Pollution and acne
A study in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology showed a link between air pollution and worsening acne. The researchers noted that acne appeared to be more common in areas with high levels of air pollution and poor air quality. Another study found that pollution affected the skin’s oil (sebum) production and inflammation levels.
If you live in a highly polluted area, experts recommend cleansing your skin regularly with gentle products that won’t irritate it further, protecting it with sunscreen and using ingredients that help strengthen the skin’s barrier, such as niacinamide , ceramides or natural oils like rosehip oil , and antioxidant ingredients like vitamins E and C are also important for protecting the skin.