If you’re having issues with your skin, and you can’t figure out what the culprit is, you may be surprised to find that any of these can cause many different skin problems:
Pollution. A lot of toxins float through the air and end up on your skin. Particles from pollution generate free radicals which do the following:
- Affect the skin’s collagen, which weakens and thins your skin.
- Increase acne.
- Uneven skin tone and discoloration due to an increase in melanin production.
- Damage blood vessels, which causes inflammation and blotchy skin.
Pollution is the leading cause of premature aging! Proper cleansing and the use of antioxidants (Vitamins A, C and E) can help reduce the damage that pollution causes and fight free radicals. Also, try charcoal, which extracts toxins.
Your laptop. The screen contains high-energy visible (HEV) light, or blue light that can cause the same amount of damage to your skin as the sun! The light from your laptop penetrates more deeply than UV rays and scientists believe that this light accelerates aging and long-term exposure to blue light can cause the following:
- Collagen breakdown, which leads to a weakened skin barrier.
- Increased dryness and sensitivity.
- Wrinkles and sagging.
- Uneven pigmentation.
- Altered sleep cycles, due to the blue light mimicking the sun’s rays.
Your cell phone. Not only does your cell phone contain the same blue light as your laptop, but it also could have ten times as much bacteria as a toilet seat! EW! Think about all the sweat and makeup that is left over when you finish your phone call. This can cause breakouts, so clean your device daily with an antibacterial wipe. Your phone can also lead to the following:
- “Techneck”, which happens when you are constantly looking down at your device. This can lead to wrinkles underneath your chin and around your neck. Squinting can also cause crow’s feet around your eyes.
- Dark spots and uneven pigmentation occurs when your cell phone overheats and burns your skin. Try to go hands free with headphones or speaker phone.
Pillowcases & towels. Both collect dirt, oil and dead skin, which builds up over time. It’s recommended to keep your towels separate and wash both every two to three days. This will prevent dryness, wrinkles and breakouts. You can also consider a silk pillowcase, which is hypoallergenic, keeps skin moisturized and decreases the amount of wrinkles, compared to a cotton pillowcase.