never storing chemicals in the salon or spa, buying green furnishings, and investing in a high-quality air purifier. Indoor air quality is usually worse during the winter months due to a lack of circulation of fresh air from outdoors, causing pollutants stay trapped inside the home/office.
atopic-prone skin, long-term skin problems, and hypersensitivity (Timms, 2019). Therefore, spa managers would be wise to safeguard their day spa or skin care salon against indoor air pollution by increasing ventilation, testing for radon gas, avoiding smoking, using environmental cleaning supplies, cleaning and changing filters regularly,
STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
● Use dehumidifiers, especially in basements and damp areas, to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. ● Clean and ventilate bathrooms, removing any visible signs of mold or mildew on walls, shower, and fixtures. ● Vent the clothes dryer outside the home. ● Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke, which is a known source of exposure to carcinogens and chemicals that cause skin discoloration and irritation; secondhand cigarette smoke alone contains around 4,000 chemicals. ● Test for radon, which is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium found in all soils; radon moves through the ground into the home through cracks and holes in the foundation, drafty homes, airtight homes, homes with a basement, homes with no basement, and granite countertops. ● Watch for synthetic fragrances—today’s clients are on sensory overload, as synthetic fragrances are in all sorts of laundry products, detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and even garbage bags/liner; unfortunately, these products emit dozens of chemicals into the air. ● Limit the use of plug-ins—according to a consumer survey, air fresheners emit more than a hundred volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that turn into vapor or gas at room temperature; moreover, some of these chemicals have been classified as toxic or hazardous air pollutants; air fresheners increase indoor air pollution and pose a serious health risk, including allergic reaction, skin irritations, and redness.
The following are a few simple strategies to reduce toxins, allergens, and irritants in your client’s home or workspace: ● Use microfiber mops or dust cloths to pick up dust that vacuums leave behind. ● Vacuum high-traffic areas with a HEPA filter, which can reduce household dust, pollen, dust mites, and pet dander. ● Use doormats to help reduce the amount of dirt, debris, pesticides, and other pollutants that are being tracked into the home. ● Avoid cleaning products containing formaldehyde, which can be found in VOCs, brominated fire retardants, volatile chemicals from fragrances, carpet cleaners, mattresses, and furniture. ● Look for laundry detergent that is fragrance free or that is naturally scented. ● Avoid aerosol sprays, including deodorants, hair spray, carpet cleaners, furniture polish, and air fresheners. ● Open windows to allow fresh air to circulate within the home or office. ● Turn on exhaust fans when cooking, running the dishwasher, or bathing; also, vent gas-burning appliances. ● Beautify your home with indoor plants, which act as living air purifiers. ● Use air conditioners, which help reduce the presence of pollen and other allergens, as well as humidity.
WAYS TO STAY INFORMED ABOUT AIR POLLUTION
Numerous resources are available to track changes in air quality so that consumers can see their local air pollution in real time. These resources will help you protect yourself and your clients: ● AirNow.gov reports local air quality conditions using the Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures concentrations of five major pollutants: Ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. ● The UV index is an international standard measurement of the strength of sunburn-producing and potentially
cancer-causing UV radiation at a particular place and time, indicating the risk of overexposure on a scale from 0 (low) to 11 or more (extremely high). ● The Skin Pollution Index is a skin care tool from Dermalogica and Breezometer, a global air quality data company (Arthur, 2017). This web app allows consumers to check the air pollution in their current location, reports the dominant air pollutant, and recommends Dermalogica skin care products.
POLLUTION’S EFFECT ON SKIN HEALTH
by reacting with skin proteins, lipids, and DNA molecules (Portugal-Cohen, 2017). Pollution is comprised of two main groups: Particulate matter (PM) and highly toxic reactive gases, which are compounds of nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, pollution levels vary throughout the day and they differ by seasons, geographical location, and human involvement. Studies have shown pollutants caused by particulate matter carry PAHs, which are lipophilic and can easily penetrate the skin barrier. The damaging effects when the skin is exposed to pollution may result in skin disorders, including eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, premature skin aging, sensitive skin, accelerated aging symptoms such as collagen and elastin breakdown, abnormal pigmentation formation, skin dryness, wrinkle formation, and skin cancer (Araviiskaia et al., 2019).
The WHO defines pollution as contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. The increase in air pollution over the past few decades is wreaking havoc on the skin. Traditionally, pollution was classified as just smog (ground-level ozone) and smoke. Today, however, pollution has become more complex due to different factors, triggers, modes of action, and variation of exposure (Portugal-Cohen, 2017). Harmful airborne toxins caused by vehicle fumes, industry, cigarette smoke, and UV radiation have a detrimental effect on the skin and overall health. Pollution continues to be a global challenge, and recent data are proving that pollution over the long term can react with skin tissue, altering functions of the skin barrier, penetrating the skin barrier, and causing oxidative stress and inflammation damage
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