New Delhi: With Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping to the lowest levels, experts reveal that skin related problems have surged to a record high. According to doctors, the dangerously high pollution in the national Capital is not only taking a toll on people's health, but is also adversely affecting their skin, causing allergies, rashes and premature ageing, thereby forcing them to seek medical treatments.
Speaking on the issue, Dr V K Sharma, Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology, AIIMS said, "Exposure to pollution leads to early ageing of skin, pigmentation, skin irritation and other skin related problems. Due to high pollution level patients suffering from skin allergy experience aggravation. It is proven by research that high level of PM 2.5 present in the air leads to inflammation of skin. Due to high levels of pollution in Delhi, the number of patients with skin problems has gone up."
Meanwhile, Dr Ajaya Kashyap, Medical Director, KAS Medical Centre and MedSpa said that they have seen an increase in number of patients with skin-related issues. "In last few days, we received a record number of patients with skin-related issues and also for anti-ageing treatments, we see almost 30 per cent increase in number of patients," he said.
According to researchers, Delhi's pollution is characterised by extremely high levels of Particulate Matter (PM), reaching up to even 999 in some days, while the permissible level is 60 micrograms, it is even worse for the skin. According to research published in PubMed last year, an increase in PM is found to be associated with 20 per cent more pigment spots on the forehead and cheeks.
Explaining the link between pollution and premature ageing, Dr Ajaya Kashyap says, "Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between the free radicals and antioxidants, and inflammation are the major reasons behind skin damage and premature ageing. Unfortunately, pollution accelerates both these procedures, leading to breakouts, irritations, eczema, allergy, pigmentations and even wrinkles. The patients we are receiving, report black spots and fine lines coming up on their faces in a fortnight or so."