Pollution and You

By Kavya Singh

As India grows, the air around us is growing dirtier with vehicular pollution, burning of fossil fuels and dust arising from construction-related activities. Pollution not only causes a host of health problems, it is also responsible for damaging and ageing your skin and hair faster. Here are 5 mantras to protect your skin and hair against air pollution.

1) Cleansing your skin and hair

Dust, dirt and smog clog your pores and prevent your skin from breathing. It is also a starting point for patchy skin, acne and age spots. Cleansing your face thoroughly with a natural-ingredient based face wash is one routine you must never skip. A combination of ginger and lime works well in pulling out grime, exfoliating skin and making it radiant. Same rule applies for hair. Exposure to soot and fumes makes your hair dirty and dull. As you start washing your hair more frequently, you need to use a shampoo that gently cleanses your hair without damaging it.

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2) Staying hydrated

Pollution dries up your skin and hair, making it age faster. As pollution levels rise, you need to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and natural juices, keep your skin moisturized and hair conditioned. Moisturizers hydrate skin and hair roots, generating cell re-growth and retaining elasticity. You should choose skin and hair products that have naturally hydrating ingredients like aloe vera. This wonder plant keeps your skin supple and hair moisturized and shining.

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3) Protecting against skin ageing

Whatever the season, sunblock is a must to protect your skin. Don’t lock away your sunscreen in winters because the sun is not out. Think of the sunscreen as an added layer of protection that guards your facial skin against harmful environmental effects like UV and pollution. Your skin needs more care in smog-filled, harsh winters and you need to follow a proper winter skin care regime to guard against wrinkles and premature ageing.

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4) Repairing and reversing pollution-related damages

Anti-oxidants are good guys that have the ability to intercept and block free-radicals (bad guys aggravated by pollution that deplete oxygen from the air). Free-radicals damage skin and hair and consuming foods (yellow, orange and red foods) and using grooming products rich with anti-oxidants can reverse pollution-related damages. Coffee is loaded with anti-oxidants, apart from drinking it, use a face-wash and shampoo made with coffee bean oil. It will regenerate cell growth and keep your skin and hair healthy and youthful.

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5) Rejuvenating skin and hair

Getting a professional facial (cleansing, exfoliating and healing mask) done once in a couple of months will help remove deep-seated toxins caused by pollution and restore skin’s moisture. Similarly, going periodically for a hair-spa or rigorous scalp massage and applying a hair pack with natural ingredients, followed by a thorough rinse and conditioning will treat your pollution-damaged hair.

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