How can the environment in which you live affect your skin? The skin protects the body from the atmosphere, and it is exposed to several things that may harm it. The environment you live in affects premature aging, for instance. Continue reading to learn how the environment affects your biggest organ, the skin.

Winter

The heat inside causes the indoor atmosphere to be dry, thus drying out your skin. During the winter, dry skin is at its worst.

Indoor furnaces and the cold weather make the skin very dry. However, the cold causes pores to close up, making the skin less oily. With the right skin care products, such as a biological skin care balm, you can keep your skin moisturized.

Summer

Air conditioners and fans in the summer also affect the skin. They have a dehydrating effect on the skin, because they speed up the evaporation process from the surface of the body. Unless one drinks plenty of water to make up for the dehydration, inelasticity of the skin will be the result.

Once outside, there is the heat to consider, which opens up the pores on the skin. This in turn allows for increased oil secretion and thus oily skin. As a consequence, the stale oil on the skin combined with environmental dust and other pollutants can lead to blocked pores and result in black heads and pimples.

Sun

The sun, as we all have heard, can have some very harmful effects on the skin. Regardless of the season, it still reaches the skin and cause problems, such as sunburns and sunspots. This is one of the biggest environmental issues the skin has to deal with. UV rays can cause skin cancer to develop, as moles and freckles appear more often and darker. It is wise to use a facial moisturizer that has SPF protection in it already, so that you won't have to remember sunscreen everyday. The sun also dehydrates your skin, and prolonged sun bathing can lead to leathery textured skin. Therefore a hat when you are outside can really be useful.

Air Pollution

Air pollution comes mostly from vehicles. Cars emit a wide variety of pollutants, mainly carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Factories are also culprits causing bad air that can upset the skin. Sulphur dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels produces smog, and factories are major contributors.

The contaminants in the air around us interfere with the skin's normal pH. It can cause it to become acid or alkaline, depending on the type of pollutant the skin is exposed to. This is followed by an abnormal release in oils from the skin, which is actually our skin's natural defense. The body's natural detoxification system is impaired, leading to acne. Pollutants in the air also encourage free radicals, which speed up aging.

Anti Aging Skin Care