In this year's winter, the drought was intense, leaving a large part of the country with almost 60 days without rain, reaching up to 90 days in some states. This dry spell contributes to a high number of wildfires and lowers the relative humidity in some areas to proportions similar to desert climates.
Together with the high temperatures during the day, dust particles accumulate in the atmosphere, forming that classic gray layer on the horizon of large industrialized centers.
The result in our bodies is an increase in eye burning, throat irritation, more cases of rhinitis, asthma, myocardial infarction, and even, in the long term, skin aging.
That's right, Viekörtter and collaborators studied the influence of pollution particles on the formation of spots and skin aging. Therefore, if you live near busy highways or in an urban center, stay alert, as your skin may reveal signs of your history in the future.
It has already been presented here on our blog that the aging process results from a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic causes. These present specific clinical symptoms such as deep wrinkles, irregular pigmentation spots, and elastosis. Among the extrinsic causes, we have previously discussed a bit about the importance of diet and solar radiation; but recently, the importance of other environmental factors such as cigarette smoke and atmospheric particles (AP) has also been discussed.
The mechanisms of action of these particles on the skin are still not completely elucidated and are the focus of scientific discussions. The authors cite previous studies in which nanoparticles primarily from heavy traffic are considered the most harmful components of AP. It has been mentioned that these particles can carry organic and chemical compounds and penetrate through hair follicles, acting on cellular mitochondria, allowing the generation of reactive oxygen species.
Thus, the authors conducted an epidemiological study with 400 Caucasian women aged between 70 and 80 years from one urban and one rural area in Germany. They assessed the relationship between signs of aging, such as skin spots, deep wrinkles, solar elastosis, and telangiectasia, with long exposure to atmospheric pollutants, using a score called SCINEXA (score of intrinsic and extrinsic skin aging). They also accounted for some factors that could influence the results, such as skin type, age, body mass index, hormone replacement, smoking, among others.
The main conclusion was that AP related to heavy traffic represents an environmental factor that significantly contributes as an extrinsic agent of skin aging. They based this on information that the increase in the concentration of these particles, also derived from soot, was associated with a greater formation of spots on the face and in the nasolabial fold, although the pathogenesis of the spots is still not fully understood.
Partial results were also presented showing distinct associations already discussed in the literature, such as the use of hormone replacement and lighter skin with less development of wrinkles, unlike smoking, which was associated with more wrinkles, elastosis, and pronounced telangiectasia.
In any case, here's the tip: let's keep track of the advances in scientific research that clarify many of the nebulous actions of the environment on our bodies, so we can find ways to prevent and protect ourselves.
Consulted and suggested Bibliographic Reference
Vierkötter A, Schikowski T, Ranft U, Sugiri D, Matsui M, Krämer U, Krutmann J. Airborne particle exposure and extrinsic skin aging. J. Invest Dermatol. 2010 Dec;130(12):2719-26. Epub 2010 Jul 22.
Gunn DA, Rexbye H, Griffiths CE, Murray PG, Fereday A, Catt SD, Tomlin CC, Strongitharm BH, Perrett DI, Catt M, Mayes AE, Messenger AG, Green MR, van der Ouderaa F, Vaupel JW, Christensen K. Why some women look young for their age. PLoS One. 2009 Dec 1;4(12):e8021.
Guinot C, Malvy DJ, Ambroisine L, Latreille J, Mauger E, Tenenhaus M, Morizot F, Lopez S, Le Fur I, Tschachler E. Relative contribution of intrinsic vs extrinsic factors to skin aging as determined by a validated skin age score. Arch Dermatol. 2002 Nov;138(11):1454-60.
