The research team claimed that ultrafine dust infiltrates the skin and creates large amounts of reactive oxygen species to accelerate the skin’s aging process. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — As one of some of the worst air pollution ever has swept across South Korea for six straight days, many people are particularly concerned for their health.
A recent study revealed that continuous exposure to ultrafine dust can infiltrate facial pores and quicken the aging process, resulting in facial wrinkles.
A South Korean research team led by Prof. Lee Jong-hee from Samsung Medical Center conducted a 14-day study on 188 volunteers to see how ultrafine dust (PM2.5) affects the human body.
The study is the first to verify the side effects of exposure to fine dust, and has been published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
The study subjects were 32 men and 156 women, 35.8 years old on average, healthy and without any skin conditions.
Subjects were provided a smartphone application to take a photo of their face every day to observe and automatically record any signs of wrinkles or other skin conditions.
As time passed, the regression coefficient that shows the causality between ultrafine dust and wrinkles has drawn meaningful results.
“The changes in the regression coefficient proves that exposure to ultrafine dust indeed accelerates the skin’s aging process,” said Lee.
The research team claimed that ultrafine dust infiltrates the skin and creates large amounts of reactive oxygen species to accelerate the skin’s aging process.
“Previously, we expected that fine dust affects only individuals with prior skin conditions, such as atopy or certain allergies. Now, we know that even healthy people who are constantly exposed to ultrafine dust everyday can fall victim to skin aging,” said Lee.
Lee emphasized the importance of washing one’s face upon returning home in order to prevent the skin from aging due to exposure to ultrafine dust.
“Deteriorating skin condition during periods when ultrafine dust concentrations are high means that ultrafine dust has already infiltrated the skin,” said Lee.
“Since there are currently no cosmetics known to prevent ultrafine dust from infiltrating the skin, it’s important to wash your face every time you return home, and use cosmetics products with antioxidant features.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
