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Protecting your skin from harmful pollution

Peer reviewed by Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGPAuthored by Amberley DavisOriginally published 7 Jul 2024

It's not just sun cream you need to think about when it's hot - stagnant summer days can make air pollution especially high. This can aggravate existing skin conditions and speed up skin ageing, but a cleansing routine with the right ingredients can help you. Find out how to help protect yourself here.

In this article:

Air pollution is the mostly invisible threat that tends to reach its peak in cities during summer. It refers to all the particles or gases that are released into the air by human activity, including:

  1. Exhaust fumes from cars.

  2. Cigarette smoke.

  3. Fumes released from factories.

  4. Microplastics.

  5. Aerosols.

Can air pollution affect skin?  

Polluted air can get into your lungs, causing damage and triggering asthma. Your external appearance can also suffer. Although less serious than the health effects of inhaling toxic particles, your skin can become damaged and aged.  

Dr Sophie Momen, skin specialist at the Cadogan Clinic, explains: "Some particles in pollution can pass through your skin and induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Your body has various antioxidant mechanisms, which essentially mop up these ROS.   

"However, if there is too much ROS and not enough antioxidants, then something called oxidative stress occurs. Oxidative stress affects the functioning of cells, and, in the skin, it leads to a damaged skin barrier, inflammation and ageing - fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation."

Studies have shown that long-term exposure to air pollutants, such as ozone, also depletes the skin of the health-giving antioxidants, vitamins C and E1. These support things like collagen production, wound healing, and recovery from UV (ultraviolet) damage after sun exposure. 

This kind of damage may also cause skin conditions, including acne, eczema and psoriasis2. These problems come with their own set of symptoms that can affect your quality of life, causing soreness, pain, and low self-esteem in many cases.  

Does SPF protect against air pollution?  

Dr Momen says: "If your SPF sunscreen contains antioxidants  - such as green tea, vitamin E, or vitamin C - then it may help mop up ROS to reduce harmful oxidative stress."

However, there's a need for more studies in this area. The skin specialist also adds that the filters in general SPF sunscreens that protect against UV radiation in sunlight will not protect against ROS produced from pollution.  

Does make up protect skin from air pollution?  

The same rule applies to your make up. Only products containing antioxidants that promote healthy skin could be considered potentially helpful and protective. No matter how much you pay, or how thickly you spread it on your face, air pollutant particles that are small enough can pass through your make up and into your skin. 

How to protect your skin from air pollution  

Anti-pollution skincare is a popular buzzword in the beauty industry. Despite marketing claims, there's not a lot of evidence that clearly shows antioxidant–containing moisturisers and other lotions can reduce the effects of pollution.  

Nevertheless, a healthy skincare routine is proven to help your skin do its job to the best of its ability - to heal wounds and keep out harmful toxins, all while boosting its appearance.  

Here's a step-by-step skincare routine for healthy skin:  

  1. Gently cleanse every day - a gentle cleanser helps to remove dirt, bacteria, oil and other pollutants that build up throughout the day. Don’t use soap-based products, as these can damage the skin barrier. 

  2. Moisturise every day - this prevents dryness, which can lead to breakage, and supports a strong skin barrier to keep out harmful substances.  

  3. Use sunscreen every day - UV damage from the sun accelerates cell damage and ageing. Choosing one that contains antioxidants may also help protect against pollution damage. 

  4. Exfoliate with glycolic acid a few times a week - glycolic acid is a gentle exfoliant that helps to penetrate and unclog blocked pores caused from pollution. Use three times a week until your skin becomes accustomed enough to use daily. 

As part of this routine, you may wish to incorporate serums or moisturisers that contain ingredients that show promise for their anti-pollution properties. Even with more studies needed in this area, the following also supply other healthy skin benefits. 

  • Vitamin C - an antioxidant that minimises cell damage and protects the skin barrier against pollutants. 

  • Retinol (vitamin A) - another antioxidant that helps reduce cell damage caused by harmful environmental factors, like pollution. 

  • Plant oils - show promise for protection against air pollutants. For example, jojoba, sesame, carrot seed or Indian sandalwood oil3. 

  • Plant extracts fermented with probiotic cultures - have protective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Examples include coconut, chili and pumpkin fermented in extracts rich in citric, lactic and glycolic acid 3.

Further reading

  1. Parrado et al: Environmental stressors on skin aging. Mechanistic insights.  

  2. Roberts: Air pollution and skin disorders.  

  3. Jurek and Newmann: Review on the recent advancements in the anti-pollution skincare formulations: focus on immunomodulation and microbial preparations.  

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Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

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