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Air Pollution and Skin Aging

Current Environmental Health Reports volume 7, pages 58–64 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of the Review

The evidence on the role of air pollution on skin aging has increased in recent years. The accumulating evidence is based on both, epidemiological and mechanistic studies. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the recent evidence on the impacts of air pollution on skin aging as well as identify knowledge gaps for future research.

Recent Findings

Traffic-related air pollution exposure (particulate matter (PM), soot and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) has been associated with premature skin aging in several independent cohorts. In real life, human skin is additionally exposed to UV radiation, which is known for its effects on premature skin aging. More recent epidemiological findings suggest that (1) associations of PM can be altered by UV radiation with stronger PM associations at lower levels of UV, and (2) there is an association of tropospheric ozone with wrinkle formation, independent of NO2, PM, and UV.

Summary

The association between traffic-related air pollution and skin aging has been well-established. More recent epidemiological studies focused on the associations with ozone as well as interactions with of ambient air pollution with UV radiation, a research area that is becoming more important with the increase of global warming.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IUF-Leibniz Institute for Environmental Medicine, Duesseldorf, Germany

    Tamara Schikowski

  2. Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Anke Hüls

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  1. Tamara Schikowski
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Schikowski, T., Hüls, A. Air Pollution and Skin Aging. Curr Envir Health Rpt 7, 58–64 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-020-00262-9

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Keywords

  • Environmental influences
  • Ozone
  • Ultraviolet radiation
  • Nitrogen oxides
  • Particulate matter
  • Soot