NewBeauty
We were surprised to see where New York City landed.
Getty Images
SkinStore has just released the results of a study analyzing the exposure to pollution and UV levels across the country to determine the best and worst U.S. cities for skin health. Researchers combined these two factors to create an overall “skin score” to not only identify how “good” the city is for the skin, but also bring attention to those cities where residents should be taking extra steps to protect their skin.
In an article we reported in 2017, New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD said the major way pollution damages skin is through the generation of what is called oxidative stress, an important contributor to skin aging. “Particles in the nano-size range, especially those from traffic, are considered among the most harmful components of pollution. They cause oxidative stress and are also highly reactive toward biological surfaces and structures, such as the skin, hair and eyes. These particles can serve as carriers for organic chemicals and metals that are capable of localizing in areas such as mitochondria in the cells, which can be destructive and accelerate aging of the skin. There’s more than just UV rays that cause damage to skin cells.”