Skin Care In A Changing Climate

Well, hello there fresh and young!

Got a question for you. What’s your skin care routine like? Er, the first question actually should be, do you have a skin care routine?

Did you know, we all take care of our skin?

Yes you do.

Whether it is splashing some soapy water on your face to clear the dirt and sweat or spending hours in spas, online beauty forums and money in countless purchases of that ‘miracle product’, we all care about how we look to some extent, whether it is 1% or 100%.

Well regardless of those who find it impossible to leave the house without at least ten products on their face and those who deem it vain, and feeding consumerism, skin care is important and why? Because the skin is the largest organ in the body, covering your entire flesh and also acting as the first barrier against harmful external elements such as ultra violet solar radiation, chemicals, pollutants, bacteria and  other harmful disease causing organisms.

The skin, alongside clothing, is also the first representation of who we are. Appearances people.  So many people in this world are enslaved to deeming their worth  on acceptance by others or popularity, hence the appearance of the skin. This supports the multibillion beauty industry promoted by among others catch phrases such as ‘beauty is skin deep’, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’  and ‘first impressions are timeless’

And of course we all know, ‘I woke up like this-flawless’

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So today, we are discussing the effects of climate change on the skin, and by extension , how it goes on to affect perceptions about oneself.

First off is the destruction of the ozone layer. The ozone layer is found in the upper atmosphere and absorbs harmful ultraviolet solar rays (UV rays). UV rays are responsible for pre-mature ageing, skin cancer, sunburns, tanning and irritation. Did you know your use of a refrigerator is in fact indirectly contributing to harming your skin? The same with that hair spray or perfume you use. While these products are useful and convenient, certain chemicals found in refrigerants and aerosols called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have caused the widespread destruction and hence thinning of the ozone layer. These chemicals are still being phased out and to a large extent, we are on the right track.

Less ozone as a result of thinning means that more UV rays reach the Earth’s surface and proceed to cause trouble. How so you ask? Well, According to World Health Organization , UV rays also cause immunosuppression, that is, you cannot fight off diseases that easy because your natural body defenses are negatively affected.  Melanin, the dark pigment found in people of color and primarily those of African descent, is engineered to protect us from these UV rays.  Most dermatologists are also of the opinion that broad spectrum sunscreen protects against harmful UV rays.

To be very clear, climate change DOES NOT cause ozone depletion, but itself is one of the twin results of increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. What do I mean? Human addition of greenhouse gases into the air causes;

 (i) Global warming and also contributes to

 (ii) Ozone depletion.

 Because effect number 1 has already been discussed in detail, let’s concentrate on effect number two, ozone depletion as caused by greenhouse gases.

So, the atmosphere is to a large extent warmed up by heat being reflected by the Earth back to space. But because greenhouse gases (found in the layer of air directly next to the Earth/troposphere) absorb outgoing solar radiation as reflected by the Earth, they prevent a large amount of this heat from moving upwards into the upper atmosphere. That makes this upper layer (stratosphere) where the ozone gas is found colder. This is known as stratospheric cooling.

Stratospheric cooling causes the formation of polar stratospheric clouds which offer optimal grounds for the continued destruction of the ozone layer.

That means that more Ultra violet radiation reaches the Earth and causes more harm to human skin.

Got it? Good.

Another major way that climate change directly affects human skin is pure and simple:

There are already longer spells of increasingly dry weather and also wetter more humid weather in different areas of the globe as a result of global warming. How does this affect the skin? Colder weather means less humidity and thus the skin dries out faster. It loses its suppleness. This makes it vulnerable to infections, itchy skin and not so ‘attractive’ dried out appearance.

How do you combat this? A moisturizer locks in natural skin moisture and prevents it from being lost into the air.

In order to protect itself in drier climates, the skin over produces sebum (oil). This combined with sweat means that pores get clogged which can lead to outbreaks of acne and other skin conditions.

In this case, it is extremely necessary to lay off products and instead cleanse your skin gently. Use a gentle moisturizer.

It is prudent to note that make up in huge quantities is a problem, because basically the skin needs to breathe and the more products you pile on, the more you burden your skin.

Also, the skin absorbs every single chemical you put on it and as you know most make up products found in the market are synthetic chemicals. A good number of these  have been proven to be dangerous to the human body. An example is parabens, phthalates, toluene, formaldehyde, bromide based products and even talc found in powders. 

These are just a few of the chemicals found in common cosmetics and personal hygiene products.

Have a look at this case where  Johnson and Johnson was found guilty and fined because the jury thought its baby powder caused ovarian cancer 

Hotter weather conditions as a result of climate change cause skin pores to further open up and this means there is more absorption of the said products.

An increased number of heat waves, another effect of  climate change, can cause heat rashes and other skin conditions.

Climate change also affects the lifecycle of plants. According to this study ,prolonged changing weather conditions affect the natural range of certain plants and also the length of the flowering period. This favors the increased distribution of pollen in the atmosphere leading to more skin conditions caused by sensitivity and allergic reactions to pollen. More people are affected.

There is also increased incidence of vector borne diseases. Vector borne diseases are diseases transmitted by other organisms such as insects. Let’s zero in on yellow fever.  Yellow fever is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are insects that thrive in hot and wet areas. As a result of climate change, some areas will receive more rain than normal and still retain or receive more sunshine. It becomes hotter and wetter. That means the number of mosquitoes increase. Thus there will be increased cases of yellow fever and also dengue fever.

Increased incidences of waterborne diseases whose symptoms can manifest on the skin are also another consequence of climate change. Climate change is responsible for  extreme weather events such as flash floods which  result from extremely high amounts of rainfall as compared to what is the norm. Flash floods easily cause mixing of untreated sewage and fresh water sources. Therein lays prime ground for the breeding of dangerous waterborne diseases some of which affect the skin directly.

Colder and drier weather conditions also aggravate chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis.

The reverse is true for eczema.

There is also evidence that fungal and bacterial diseases become more prevalent in hotter and humid climates.

Another major way global warming causes skin problems is when it directly leads to dangerous algal blooms. Strains of blue green algae increase in numbers in warm water resulting from higher temperatures. Bathing using this water or drinking it will hurt your skin immensely.

Now ladies and gentlemen there are several truths in here;

        i.            It is evident that climate is changing

      ii.            This is dangerous climate change

    iii.            Generally, weather conditions affect the skin in one way or another.

So what do we do?

It is clear we need to protect the skin more, not merely for aesthetic appeal but majorly because the skin is our first line of defense, it protects us.

As it is becoming hotter in Africa, especially here in the East, I think that it is imperative that you protect your skin from these harmful effects.

Remember, shade your skin whenever you are out, drink lots of water and most importantly use natural products to protect your skin. The more natural and unadulterated, the better. I think we also agree that these products should be plant based.

That does not however mean you should be afraid of the outdoors. Sunshine is actually good for your health. Vitamin D formed by the skin when exposed to gentle sunshine is good for the bones.

Also, remember not to lather too much product onto your skin. Don’t clog your pores and most importantly, don’t poison yourself in the name of beauty.

Let the skin breathe.

Have I mentioned the numerous business opportunities that a clever business oriented person sees in this scenario? Start a company to supply skin care products based on this and it will take off.

Another important consideration is to understand your skin. We all have different skin types which are mainly influenced by genetics. So understand what works for you and in which weather conditions.

Taking a dip in the ocean is also a good thing, as salt water has many health benefits on the skin.

However be careful of water with algal blooms as noted above.

Good healthy skin is also a result of exercise. Don’t just sit there and expect to have great skin. You need to get about and shake a leg.

Also, keep off alcohol or consume it in moderation. It destroys your skin.

Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.

And remember fly boys and classy girls, it’s never that serious.

You are beautiful the way you are.

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Don’t worry, be happy