You thought you got rid of it after adolescence. Unfortunately, pimples come back to plague your life a few years later. Food, hormonal cycle, stress, genetic factor… What is the cause of the return ofacne in adulthood ? According to a studythe pollution is the main culprit.
La Roche-Posay teams conducted a survey in Beijing (China) to prove the links between pollution andacne in adults. For two years, between 2014 and 2016, scientists closely monitored the number of visits to a dermatologist for acne problems, which they compared to the evolution of the concentration of pollutants in the air. Result: as soon as the pollution peak increases, so does the number of appointments made with a skin specialist.
The weakened skin barrier
Every day, the skin is confronted with atmospheric pollution. Under the effect of UV from the sun, the pollutants combine with the oxygen in the air to form ozone, an irritant harmful to health. In addition to being able to cause a cough dryness, shortness of breath, seizuresasthma and being irritating to the eyes, this polluting substance can adhere to the skin and the finest particles can even penetrate to the cells of the epidermis. They weaken the skin barrier and prevent it from functioning properly, hence the appearance of acne pimples.
Dominique Moyal, Deputy Director of Scientific Communication at La Roche-Posay International adds to the Figaro : “With this new study, the link between increased levels of pollution and increased cases of acne has been established. A polluted environment increases the production of sebum in oily skin. Indeed, pollutants have a direct impact on squalene, a lipid present in the sebum, which oxidizes on contact with them, causing inflammation and the formation of comedones”.
To best protect your skin from the harmful effects of pollution, it is recommended to clean it with non-aggressive products (micellar water, foam makeup remover rinsed with lukewarm water) morning and evening. A gentle exfoliation is also recommended once a week to free the skin of toxins and unclog pores.
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