Indoor air quality isn’t exactly something we think about, but there are so many factors that can impact the air that you breathe inside your household. Everything, from the smoke coming from the kitchen when cooking a meal to an open window, has an impact on indoor air pollution in some regard. This can have an undeniable impact on your health and the well-being of everyone in your household. Beyond any respiratory conditions, there’s also the impact it can have on your skin.
Inadequate Ventilation
Let’s give you the facts about home indoor air quality. Clean air is a need, not a luxury. However, allergens, contaminants, and other pollution can easily roam throughout your household without you even realizing it. One of the easiest ways to improve your indoor air quality is to open doors and windows to let some fresh air in. Poor indoor air quality can stem from a litany of sources, such as fuel-burning appliances, environmental tobacco smoke, and improperly maintained HVAC systems.
While you may invest in an air purifier to help better the circulation of clean air in your household, it’s important to embrace outdoor air and proper ventilation for the safety of your skin. For example, tobacco smoke is packed with carcinogens and other toxic compounds that can actually lead to wrinkling and even discoloration of the skin. Beyond tobacco, even the smoke of a scented candle can cause air pollution, as some are made from toxic compounds like petroleum. These chemical reactions can lead to skin inflammation and puffiness.
Proper Cleaning
Beyond opening a window, you can improve your indoor air quality drastically by keeping a structured cleaning regimen. Cleaning out air filters throughout the home can eliminate dust and allergens that may be building up. This also helps to avoid mold growth in high moisture areas. Bathrooms and basements can become breeding grounds for dangerous spores that bring tremendous health risks from inhalation over time. This can range from skin irritation brought on by these environmental stressors to serious respiratory conditions.
While scrubbing down your household will help reduce your indoor air pollution, you also have to be cognizant of the cleaning products that you are using. The chemicals and pesticides inside some household products can do just as much damage to the skin and the body as a whole. Thankfully, this is an easy adjustment with more cleaning products than ever offering up chemical-free options. These all-natural items feature everything from ginger and almond to rosemary and citrus, offering the same potency as average cleaning products, with a much more pleasant aroma after use.
Fighting Back with Skin Care
From fighting higher concentrations of chemicals and the presence of hidden dangers of carbon monoxide and certain allergens, there are easy ways to avoid these health problems by addressing indoor air quality now. However, you can do more than change cleaners and open windows. You can take skincare into your own hands to fight uneven skin tone, premature aging, and other aggravating skin conditions.
Products like acne-fighting topicals and vitamin C serums for skin can give you that added boost against environmental dangers. Vitamin C helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while fading sun and age spots. These serums contain natural antioxidants that protect skin cells. Vitamin C serum can boost collagen as part of a skincare regimen, with the inclusion of hyaluronic acid to boost hydration of the skin, creating that highly desired youthful glow. Be sure to look into the active ingredients in your skincare products to make sure they are free of any preservatives or chemicals that could further mess with your skin.
