Did you know that where you live can significantly impact your skin health? From your positioning in the northern and southern hemispheres to the type of weather your area gets, there are numerous factors that can have an impact on your skin. Today, we’re going to take a look at these factors and answer a few common questions you might have. Let’s get started.
What Factors Affect Our Skin?
#1: Sunlight
You probably already know that sunlight contains ultraviolet radiation; that doesn’t need re-explaining. However, what you may not know is that where you live can impact the amount of UV radiation your skin sees.
Learn More: Don’t Forget Your Hat: The Effects of UV Exposure
Since the Earth is a sphere, the intensity of the sun’s rays varies year-round, being most intense during the summer and least intense during the winter. If you live in an area without noticeable summer/winter differences, you’re going to need year-round solutions.
But, What Does The Sun Do To Skin?
Since sunlight can so severely impact the skin (premature aging, pigmentation issues, skin cancer), it’s important to keep a good Mineral Facial Sunscreen in mind – no matter where you live.
And remember, sunscreen doesn’t completely block vitamin D production in your skin.
More Great Blogs About UV Radiation →
#2: Pollution
So, how does pollution affect our skin?
Air pollution can actually cause more damage to your skin than you might think. Pollution floating around in the air isn’t just gross, it’s microscopic and it can enter the layers of your skin. Based on where you live, you might want to include some kind of product to help you combat the effects of pollution on your skin.
Rural Areas
If you live in a rural area, air pollution probably isn’t as much of a concern for you. However, if you work in the city, it can be helpful to have an anti-pollution product in your lineup.
In The City
Especially if you live and work in the city, an anti-pollution product will be extremely helpful. Antioxidant-rich, anti-pollution products, like our everyday Facial Cleanser, can help remove and protect your skin from the early aging effects of air pollution.
#3: Weather Changes
Next, does weather affect skincare? Absolutely.
Fluctuations in weather or moving from one climate to another can also impact your skin health. For example, you may want to consider the following, based on where you live:
Fluctuations in Temperature
If you live in an area that has very drastic temperature fluctuations, like the southwest, it’s important to ensure that your skin doesn’t experience drastic water loss, too. Hot temperatures can dry your skin out, but so can cold temperatures! Using a high-quality moisturizer (and maybe even a barrier cream) can make a world of a difference.
Fluctuations in Humidity
Humidity is another very impactful weather condition for your skin. High humidity tends to protect the skin barrier, but it may cause excessive sweating, which, in turn, can cause its own skin problems (like breakouts and irritation). The best way to protect yourself is to stay inside when you can.
Low humidity, like during the winter or in desert-like areas, can be very damaging to your skin. The difference in moisture levels will naturally pull moisture away from your skin (causing dryness, sensitivity, and even eczema) if you don’t use some kind of barrier cream.
#4: Allergens
Another important factor to consider is allergens. Pollen, dust, and mold can all aggravate your skin – especially if you are allergic to any of them – causing inflammation, itching, and extreme dryness. The best thing you can do if you struggle with this is to try to avoid the triggers in the first place. Use hypoallergenic products, keep indoor spaces clean, and improve ventilation or purification in your home.
You may also want to see a dermatologist if you can’t get your allergies under control. If your skin barrier never heals, you’ll struggle with eczema, dryness, and flakiness forever. Our Skin Recovery Cream is a great product for if you struggle with eczema!
What We Can Do About It: Supporting Skin At Ground Zero
While all of the above factors certainly can have negative effects on our skin, the way we fuel our bodies can also determine how much impact the environment has on our skin. Here are a few ways we can keep our bodies and our skin functioning at their best so we can minimize the effects of environmental factors:
Diet
Our skin needs vitamins, minerals, proteins, water, and much more to thrive. When we don’t provide it with all of the nutrition and water content it needs, it’s going to be much more susceptible to damage. By eating a varied, healthy diet and drinking plenty of water, we can support our skin from the inside.
Learn More: How Diet Affects Your Skin
Stress
Stress can also severely impact our organ systems. Cortisol, a stress hormone, is known to increase DNA damage from sources like UV radiation, and psychological stress can even impact the function of the skin barrier.
Sleep Quality
Aside from lack of sleep being more likely to cause unnecessary stress, sleep is also a critical time for repair in our bodies. When we don’t get enough sleep, our skin is unable to keep up with damage done to it during the day. Combine this with dehydration and stress and you’re setting your skin up for failure.
Learn More About Lifestyle Factors That Affect Your Skin: 8 Habits That Can Speed Up Aging
In Summary: Protect Your Skin, Support Your Body
It’s important to protect your body from environmental conditions, yes, but it’s also important to support your skin from the inside, too. Based on where you live and the conditions you face, we recommend finding skincare products that will help protect your skin. But you should also focus on clean eating, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress in your daily life.
Your skin will thank you!