Skin Care for Pollution: How to Combat The Effects Of Pollution On Your Skin

Living in a city like New York means exposing your skin to all kinds of pollution. Between the cars on the street and the emissions from building ventilation systems — plus the general grime in the subway stations — there’s no escaping airborne pollution. Unfortunately, all the bad stuff in the air can have damaging effects on your skin. Choosing the right skin care and facial treatment for NYC pollution damage can save your complexion.

Research shows that indoor and outdoor air pollution can speed up the signs of aging, including dark spots and wrinkles. Consistent exposure to air pollution can reduce skin moisture and increase oil production. There is even evidence that pollution can cause inflammation and reduce your body’s ability to filter out toxins, leading to oxidative stress. Researchers suspect that pollution may also exacerbate the effects of harmful UV rays.

Finding the right combination of skin care for pollution-damaged skin can improve your complexion and slow the development of visible signs of aging.

Daily Skin Care For Pollution-Damaged Skin

Caring for your skin can offset some of the effects of pollution. Use gentle cleaners to wash your skin and remove grit and grime. Creams and serums can replace lost moisture and give skin a dose of vitamins to heal damage.

A diet rich in antioxidants helps your body filter out harmful substances. Drinking plenty of water keeps you hydrated and helps your kidneys and liver do their job of detoxing your whole body.

Air purifiers can improve indoor air quality, especially if you keep windows cracked open in your home or office. Finally, a broad-spectrum sunscreen is a must for skin protection any time you’re exposed to the sun.

Professional Skin Care to Address Pollution

If you need an extra boost to help your skin weather the effects of pollution, Laser by Monica offers services that will give you a glowing complexion. We offer treatments like specialty facials, dermaplaning, and chemical peels in New York City.

Oxygen Facials

Oxygen facials use a concentrated stream of oxygen to nourish your skin and replenish the antioxidants that pollution can damage. In addition, oxygen facials include infusions of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

The combination of oxygen and vitamins refreshes your skin and promotes collagen production. The vitamins address wrinkles and age spots as well as increasing skin elasticity and smoothness. Overall, this treatment stimulates detoxification and kills the bacteria that cause acne.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels get rid of the damaged surface layer of skin to reveal healthy skin beneath. You can choose a series of mild peels that show gradual results over time. You can also try a more intensive treatment that penetrates deeper into the skin and offers quicker results.

Laser by Monica can assess your skin and formulate a peel that removes pollution-damaged skin, brightens the complexion, and reduces breakouts. The peel might include ingredients such as:

  • Lactic acid: This alpha-hydroxy acid is a hydrating protein naturally found in milk. It offers gentle exfoliation and promotes cell turnover for fresher-looking skin.
  • Kojic acid: This ingredient is derived from mushrooms, and it’s an excellent treatment for hyperpigmentation. It can inhibit melanin production, which fades dark spots and leaves a more even-looking complexion.
  • Hibiscus: This flowering plant has intense moisturizing capabilities. Ingredients derived from hibiscus plants leave skin smooth and plump.

Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is a non-invasive treatment that refreshes skin, removes dirt and impurities, and only takes twenty minutes. Your provider will use a sterilized, single-use surgical blade to gently scrape dead skin and vellus hairs off the face.

Removing debris and fine hair reveals smoother, brighter skin immediately. The process clears away residue from pollutants and bacteria that can lead to breakouts. In the weeks after dermaplaning, your skin care products will be more effective. Products can penetrate more deeply without the layers of hair, dead skin cells, and other residues on your skin.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is intensive exfoliation combined with the application of serum to hydrate and nourish the skin. Your provider will use a wand that blows fine, abrasive particles over your skin to loosen and remove dead cells, dirt, and debris from pollution. Serum is then applied directly to the newly revealed skin so that it’s soft and hydrated. You’ll see an immediate improvement in skin brightness and tone.

Find the Best Facial Treatment in New York City

Laser by Monica is the best place to go for treatments to combat the effects of pollution. If you want a chemical peel or oxygen facial in NYC, you can visit our Madison Avenue location in Manhattan.

Whether you live in New York City or you’re just passing through, we can offer you personalized facial treatments to manage the effects of pollution, travel, or just having a busy life. Contact Laser by Monica today to set up an appointment.

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