–Bad environmental conditions cause changes in your skin that are not beneficial. Let’s begin with the air that you breathe. When it contains exhaust from autos, fumes from factories and other pollutants, it saps your skin of moisture, leaving it dry and scaly.

– Dust in the air clogs your pores, multiplies the bacteria on your face and could lead to acne and eczema.

-Weather

-Another cause of dry skin is cold weather that removes the skin’s moisture and slows the circulation of blood to it. When this happens, cells get less oxygen, which can lead to premature lines and wrinkles.

-Going from the cold outside to the warmth inside can also harm your skin because of the dramatic change in temperature. Moisturizing the skin daily and drinking lots of water helps.

– Using humidifier is also an option. Exposure to extreme heat or cold can lead to frostbite heat burn and more.

-Chemicals and Water

-Overexposure to acids, alkalis, detergents and solvents can cause irritant contact dermatitis. These harsh substances remove the oils and moisture from the top layers of the skin and allow the problem to flare up in the deeper layers. People who work on or near the water are also subject to this condition. Common signs are rash, redness, cracks, peeling, itching and swelling of the skin.

-Though eczema is common in infants and children, they are usually free of it when adults. The condition does occur in adults, however. Products that commonly trigger this condition, which is not contagious, are cleansers and soap, perfumes and scents, makeup, chlorine, cigarette smoke, solvents and chlorine.

-Exercise

-While it’s good to exercise, be aware that perspiration can lead to rash and blisters. In summer, be sure to bathe or shower to get rid of the sweat. Hives is another skin condition that is an itchy rash that can also be triggered by perspiration as well as cold, heat, the sun, water and friction.

-UV Light

-The sun can cause serious skin problems. Sunburn is one. Another is actinic keratosis, a precancerous condition that is often characterized by scaly bumps.

– They can appear on the face, bald heads, ears, shoulders, neck, back, hands and arms. Sometimes they disappear before coming back.

-Exposure to the UV rays of either natural sunlight or as used in tanning salons predisposes you to actinic keratosis.

– The Skin Cancer Foundation points out that even on cloudy days, 70 – 80 percent of the sun’s ray scan reach you. Most experts recommend covering all bare skin with clothing when outside to avoid overexposure to the sun.

-Psoriasis, a Common Skin Condition

-Like eczema, psoriasis is not contagious. Even the approximately 10 percent of people with a genetic disposition to this condition don’t develop it. Environmental factors, however, can cause it to erupt. These include cuts, scrapes and insect bites as well as sunburn. In eczema, which is an immune disease, the skin cells reproduce so quickly that the skin is unable to shed them all. The result is patchy skin.

-Rosacea, Another Common Skin Problem

–Rosacea is of several types. Ocular rosacea is characterized by eyelids that are swollen or red or eyes that are teary or bloodshot. Left untreated if can lead to vision loss.

-Other forms of rosacea are marked by red, pus-filled bumps on the face that might begin at the nose and cheeks and spread to the ears, chest and back. It may also be characterized by thickening skin, spider veins on the face and a flushed look.

–Bill Clinton and Princess Diana were diagnosed with rosacea. Environmental triggers for it include exposure to the sun, humidity, wind and extreme temperatures. Taking saunas or hot baths can also trigger flare-ups.

-The environment in which you live conditions your skin unless you take steps to check it. Every day, wear a sunblock with an SPF of 30 or more to protect against UV rays. Use a moisturizer daily too as protection against premature aging.

-When using chemicals and cleansers, wear the recommended, protective gloves and equipment. Take note of the environmental conditions that cause your skin to erupt and try to avoid them or protect yourself against them because the skin is the largest organ in your body.

– Dear readers and followers, be aware of your skin condition to prevent the negative consequences of skin diseases.

-Take care!

-Anne- Vasthi