Caring for your skin before and after exposure to wildfire smoke
As wildfires rage across the West Coast, your skin health may not be the first thing on your mind. In fact, skincare might be the last thing you think about. But as the smoke clears and the skies return to their natural blue hues, you may be wondering, did the fires affect my skin?
The short answer is yes. Dr. Shanthi Colaço of ShanthiMD Dermatology in West Los Angeles explains the harsh reality of environmental pollutants and how they affect your skin.
“When fires burn, they release a wide variety of air pollutants and gases that can be extremely harmful to the skin like particulate matter, heavy metals, ozone, and more” she says.
Research studies have shown that environmental pollutants, like wildfire smoke, are linked to several harmful conditions of the skin like:
Rapid Skin Aging
Skin Cancer
Increased Pigmentation,
Collagen Degradation
and more!
These long-term effects can be harmful if we don't take proper precautions, Dr. Colaço says. The wildfires cause clogged pores and lead to breakouts. The fires also dry out the skin causing itchiness, dryness, or dullness of the skin. A few of the short-term effects include:
Acne Outbreaks
Blemishes
Blackheads
Increased Oil Production
Dryness
Additionally, pre-existing skin conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, and/or eczema may also be exacerbated by the wildfires.
So how can you avoid these damaging effects? Experts like Dr. Colaço agree that the best way to protect your skin is to avoid smoky areas. Stay indoors as much as possible, wear clothing that covers your body as much as possible, and wear a face covering (your COVID-19 facemask is on double duty!). Avoiding the smoke is the best way to protect yourself. But, sometimes being in the smoke is unavoidable, as we’ve seen here in California.
What if you’ve already been exposed? If you were exposed, try these tips to keep your skin healthy and hydrated.
First, take a shower and change your clothes — even once you’re indoors, the harmful smoke particles may still be all over your clothes and body. Make sure to wash those off as soon as you can. Next, make sure your recovery routine includes some of the following:
Gentle Cleanser — cleaning is so important, getting the harmful particles off of your skin is the most helpful thing you can do to take care of your skin. If you’ll be in smoky areas for long periods of time, keep a mini-cleanser in your purse to cleanse on-the-go. Take your mini-moisturizer, too!
Antioxidants like Vitamin C and niacinamide — these ingredients stimulate collagen production and brighten the skin
Gentle exfoliants — exfoliating can help get rid of the harmful surface-level particles sitting on the skin. Be sure not to use a harsh exfoliant as this can cause more irritation
Moisturizer — Replenish your skin! The wildfires and smoke will dry out your skin. Restore the moisture in your skin with a calming moisturizer for the skin and a balm for the lips. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides which hold onto and lock in moisture in the skin
Stay hydrated — the heat from the wildfires deprives the body of water, make sure you’re drinking enough to keep your body healthy and hydrated
The wildfires may have many of us feeling helpless, but even in the midst of these trying times, we can take care of ourselves and our loved ones with a little extra self-care and TLC!
Schedule an appointment at our practice to consult with Dr. Colaço and our amazing dermatology team in West Los Angeles.
For more skincare articles, visit our new dermatology magazine, ShanthiMD Magazine.