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Health: Protecting Skin From Air Pollution

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Sun isn't the only thing that can damage your skin. Pollution is a problem too.

From car exhaust and cigarette smoke, to soot and smog, air pollution is not only bad for your lungs. Dirty air hurts your skin too.

Aicha Reid, an actress says, "I'm walking by a bus and then all of a sudden there's just like this thick black smoke just wafting into my face and I'm just like, 'my pores!" She worries about the effects of pollution on her skin. It can accelerate the aging process.  Dr. Amy Derick, a Board Certified Dermatologist and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, says, "By breaking down collagen and increasing free radicals in the skin."

Now, the beauty industry is addressing the problem with a growing number of products. Some promise to neutralize "free radicals," which studies show can injure skin cells. Others claim to contain "topical anti-oxidants" that remove "pollution particulates," which can lead to dullness, wrinkles, and dark spots.

Dr. Derick recommends using a cleansing brush to decrease the amount of pollution left on your skin overnight and also a topical anti-oxidant, explaining: "If air pollution does get through into your skin and starts to create damage, these antioxidants are able to kind of scavenge the free radicals that are created and may decrease the damage that's done."

Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, a dermatologist who consults for cosmetic companies, says the science behind protecting skin from air pollution is in the early stages, "Much more research is needed to find out exactly what is happening with not only ozone pollution but particulate pollution on the skin over time. How can we combat it? We're really only seeing the beginning of this process."

Studies have shown that air pollution can also cause other skin problems like acne, eczema and redness from allergic reactions.

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