- Bengaluru pollution linked to severe acne: Pollution exposure clogs pores, triggers breakouts, and damages skin elasticity, causing premature aging.
- Clinic Next Face offers aesthetic treatments for acne: Dermatologist-customized treatments for skin issues.
- Bengaluru’s high pollution levels: Rapid deterioration of PM2.5 levels, extreme pollution in winters, but relatively more “good” AQI days.
- Pollution causes acne: Depletes Vitamin E, oxidizes sebum, blocks pores, triggers reactions in skin products.
- Hard water worsens skin: Dryness, soap scum, collagen breakdown, scalp issues, exacerbates existing skin disorders.
Bengaluru’s pollution is harsh and it can be one of the key reasons behind your severe acne. Your skin’s consistent exposure to pollution deteriorates the acne-prone skin’s clogged pores, which causes acne breakouts. Pollution causes free radical damage, which makes your skin lose elasticity and age prematurely. Sun exposure, sweating and heat trigger the acne condition on your skin.
At CNF, you can opt for an aesthetic treatment to treat your skin and get a clear and glowing face. Our skilled doctors checks your acne condition and then customizes a acne treatment plan accordingly to fix the issues.
Pollution Levels in Bengaluru – Statistics and Trends
The pollution level in Bangalore is high throughout the year. According to the study by the Centre for Science and Environment, Bengaluru witnessed the quickest deterioration of PM2.5 levels and had the worst extreme pollution in 2023 winter for the last 4 years. The report also showed statistics related to air quality in Bengaluru. The everyday PM2.5 level hit 152 µg/m³ on 27th January, the highest 24-hour PM2.5 average in the Karnataka capital since 2019. However, Bangalore had the maximum number of “good” AQI days among the megacities.
Pollution and Acne
Unfortunately, pollution and acne are strongly related. You may be eating healthy, and following a proper skincare routine, but still, your skin may get acne only because of it getting exposed to pollution every day. The toxins present in the air you inhale damage your skin
Here are the ways pollution causes acne:
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Reduce Natural Vitamin E
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Vitamin E protects your skin against all types of external damage, such as pimples, age spots, sunburn, and skin cancer. Consistent exposure to polluted air depletes the level of Vitamin E in your skin. It exposes your delicate skin pores to oxidative damage.
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Oxidate Sebum Stores
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Pollution leads to oxidative damage to your skin. It gradually loses its natural moisture. Oxidation aggravates your skin cells more rapidly than they should. Due to this reason, people living in crowded and polluted cities age so fast. Such oxidative damages develop inflammation, which causes acne.
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Block Skin Pores
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The polluted air’s microscopic dust elements block skin pores and fill your face with blackheads. If you wipe your skin using wet tissue paper when stepping indoors, you can see a high amount of grime accumulating on your face. Severe pollution can cause acne filled with pus on your face and throughout your body.
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Trigger Reactions by Skin Products
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Many skincare products contain squalene oil, an ingredient harvested from rice bran, olives, and other natural resources. Squalene is a natural antioxidant that starts reacting and converting to squalene peroxide after exposure to polluted air. Such a reaction causes severe acne gradually.
About Bangalore’s Hard Water Worsening Skin Condition
Bangalore’s hard water has a dangerous level of TDS of over 1500 mg/liter, which may cause various health disorders. Water with at least 1200 PPM of TDS levels may cause critical skin disorders.
Here are the ways hard water can worsen your skin condition:
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Dry Out Skin
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Dry skin is one of the most common outcomes of using hard water. Its minerals allow very less moisture to enter your skin. Hard water minimizes the effects of lotion/moisturizer on your skin. It builds up calcium bicarbonate, which is harmless but blocks pores and gives your flaking skin.
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Build a Stubborn Soap Scum
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When hard water mixes with your soap and shampoo, it builds a soap scum layer as the water can’t produce lather. Washing off soap scum is difficult and may cause itchiness if left to dry. The soap chemicals also mix with the water’s calcium carbonates. As the layer strengthens further, it causes dryness and other skin issues.
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Break Down Collagen
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Bangalore hard water minerals are heavy, which break the collagen inside your skin, which causes wrinkles and premature aging. The skin gets weaker and thus, more sensitive to pollutants. The normal skin dryness caused due to hard water can further damage your skin.
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Dry Out Scalp and Cause Dandruff
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Hard water has almost quick and harsh effects on your scalp. It dries out your scalp, irritates the skin, and causes dandruff. The soap or shampoo you may use can create a thin layer. A dry scalp also causes hair fall and hair thinning.
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Intensify Your Current Skin Disorders
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Skin disorders, such as psoriasis and eczema, can get worse when you use hard water. The mineral accumulation may cause critical irritation in people having such skin disorders. Besides the minerals, the concentration in Bangalore’s hard water is also harmful. Excessive hard water utilization may cause dermatitis.
Tips to Protect Your Skin from Pollution
Follow these tips below to protect your skin from harsh pollution:
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Clean Your Face Everyday
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Remove make-up nicely and clean your face twice daily to remove all dirt and maximum pollutants on the surface.
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Exfoliate Skin
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Exfoliate your skin one or two times a day. Besides washing out dead skin cells and clogging pores, exfoliation prevents dirt, bacteria, and pollutants buildup. The products you apply on your face after exfoliation give better results.
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Moisturize Skin Morning and Night Everyday
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After cleaning and exfoliating your face, apply a serum containing active ingredients to rebalance the moisture level in your skin. Then, apply a moisturizing lotion, cream, or fluid suited to your skin type. The cream and serum complementing each other can help in rebuilding the protective barrier.
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Apply SPF Creams and Lotions
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You should apply cream or lotion with sun protection every day. Sun UV rays are harmful to the skin and they multiply the dangerous effects of pollutants. Thus, ensure to apply sunscreen lotion throughout the year when stepping outside in the sun.
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Eat Healthy Fats and Antioxidant-Rich Foods
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Add almonds, garlic, broccoli, eggplant, eggs, oily fish, whole grains, and avocado to make tissues healthier and restore the hydrolipidic film in your skin.
Lifestyle Habits That Can Trigger Acne
You may be having acne consistently because of certain lifestyle habits. Here are common lifestyle habits and reasons that may cause you acne:
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Taking Heavy Stress
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Stress releases hormones, which signal your skin to secrete more oil and can develop into acne. The stress hormone flows across your system and may cause inflammation. It prompts sebaceous cells to boost oil production. Excess oil production clogs the pores and combines with bacteria to cause large and inflamed sit.
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Smoking Everyday
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Smoking damages the elastin and collagen in your skin. As a consequence, it gets difficult for your skin to cure acne and scars left by them. Wrinkles may develop quickly, which may make your skin older than your age. So, quit smoking now to maintain healthy skin.
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Sleeping Without Cleaning Makeup
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Makeup clogs pore and accumulate dirt and sweat on your face in a day. The clogged pores promote the formation of micromedone, which attracts the acnes bacteria into pores and causes breakouts.
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Eating Wrong Foods
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You should follow a healthy diet, eat antioxidants and leafy green veggies that control inflammation. If you feel dairy products aggravate acne, don’t have them for a few weeks and check the results. Monitor how your skin looks with the current diet you follow and then make changes accordingly.
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Sleeplessness
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Insufficient sleep causes stress and thereby, acne. Once zits and undereye bags develop, you will understand sleeping for 7 to 8 hours every night is essential to maintain glowing skin.
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Unwashed Pillowcase
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An unclean bacteria has bacteria that enter your skin when you sleep on it. Wash your pillowcase at least twice a week. Change the pillowcase frequently if you use hair products, such as oils, which leave behind remnants on the pillowcase.
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Not taking a Shower After Sweating
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Wearing tight clothes when working out irritates skin and causes a type of acne, called “acne mechanica”. Trapping heat and sweat multiplies bacteria, which causes acne. So, wear breathable clothes when working out and take a shower immediately after it’s done.
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Take Certain Medicines
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Any medicine affecting your body’s hormone levels may cause acne by triggering the sebaceous glands. If you think the medicines you take cause acne, switch to different types of medicines.
Acne Treatments We Do at CNF to Reduce Acne
Here are the types of treatments you can avail of at CNF to treat your acne :
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are acidic solutions applied to the targeted parts of your skin. The acidic solution, once penetrates your skin, damages your dead skin, unclogs pores, and helps in regenerating your new skin. As a consequence, your acne scars and blemishes disappear. Chemical peels can be superficial, medium, or profound. You may see immediate improvements after the first session but require multiple sessions to get the desired results. Treated areas develop new skin in 2 months after a deep chemical peel, while redness may stay for months.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment reduces the appearance of acne scars with the implementation of powerful fractional laser technology. The micro-fine laser lights get inside your skin’s deep layers and boost the support system. The short pulses of light help your skin to naturally repair damaged cells and tissues, which build new elastin and collagen. The results are permanent, however, you need to take proper care of your skin to control and prevent acne. The full recovery can take a few days or even a few weeks.
PlasmoDerm
PlasmoDerm is a potent treatment to cure different skin disorders, including post-acne scars. The treatment helps in reducing pigmentation developed because of acne scars. It is a safe treatment that suits most people. You get an even skin tone, making you look much better. Your acne scars don’t get removed immediately as collagen and tissue regeneration production take time. The skin texture and tone enhance in a few weeks. You get the desired results after many months as the skin recovers. 3 to 4 sessions at 4 to 6 weeks can give the desired results.
Topical Treatments
Topical treatments, like the application of creams, lotions, and cleansers can control your consistent acne breakouts. You need to apply such medications directly on the skin, containing various types of acne-fighting ingredients. Our dermatologist diagnoses your acne condition and suggests the right topical treatment accordingly. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the two most effective OTC acne creams. They can also be used in combination in different concentrations. Topical retinoids, containing vitamin A, can treat your acne by creating pores and preventing oil accumulation.
Signup for a Free Consultation
Do you want to get rid of acne and get flawless skin? Book a free consultation with our skilled dermatologist. At CNF in Bengaluru, we check your acne condition and treat it as required to deliver the desired results.
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