The Effects of Pollution on Skin

Skinceuticals announce initial findings from a multi-year research initiative on the damaging effects of pollution on skin.

Results of this study were presented recently at the 2014 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in Denver.

Pollution has become a widespread and global epidemic. The World Health Organization considers air pollution to be a carcinogen, and has recently published a report revealing pollution claimed a staggering seven million lives worldwide in 2012. Several epidemiological studies across the globe have revealed pollution causes a wide range of damage, ranging from decreased life expectancy, to deadly diseases and visible, premature aging.

The potential for skin damage rapidly accelerates, as pollution levels surge and interact with other environmental aggressors like UV radiation, to create an even more noxious byproduct – ground level ozone.

While the health effects of pollution have been extensively studied, research on its effect in skin is at its infancy. In partnership with Prof. Giuseppe Valacchi from the University of Ferrara, Italy, a leading researcher in the study of ozone, Skinceuticals has embarked on an extensive and ongoing research initiative to prove that the brand’s unique antioxidants protect from pollution-induced damage.

“Ozone is one of the most toxic and constant forms of pollution,” shares Prof. Valacchi. “Ozone and UV together depletes skin’s protective antioxidants three times more than ozone alone. Our latest research proves that ozone pollution accelerates the natural aging process by creating free radicals, which impair healthy skin cell function, and activating NF-kB, an inflammatory pathway associated with several skin pathologies. The impact of ozone-induced damage is significantly prevented with these antioxidants.”

“We are at the forefront of uncovering the mechanism of pollution and skin,” says Marc Toulemonde, Skinceuticals global general manager.

For more information visit http://www.advancedcosmeceuticals.com.au/brands/skinceuticals/