While there is a lot you can do to take care of your skin, there's not much we can do to change the amount of air pollution in our environment on an individual level. As pollution continues to worsen all over the world, and we continue to live in places with toxins in the air that we can't control, it's more important than ever to understand exactly how they can affect you and your health.

There is a wide range of side effects, from the minor to the extremely severe, but there are also steps you can take to ensure your skin stays healthy and clear. For anyone who wants more information on how to protect themselves, read on to learn about three ways air equality can impact your skin.

1. Premature Aging and Wrinkles

One of the most common effects of poor air quality is premature aging or wrinkling of the skin. To address this issue, there are some products you need to add to your beauty routine. You should make sure that you're using skin products that contain the vitamins and nutrients that pollutants tend to strip out, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and hexinol. There are also skin products that are designed to help exfoliate more effectively. 

Algae is a great ingredient to look for if you're shopping for something new. Cleansers can help to address deeper issues, though you should focus on finding one that's a good match for your skin type. Ensuring that your dry skin gets proper moisture is also essential, so make sure you have a good moisturizer or serum that contains active ingredients like retinol. It can help to create a barrier between your skin and the elements in the air around you.

2. Acne

Acne and blemishes on your skin can also be the result of the presence of poor air quality. Atmospheric smoke around the house can be a cause for this issue, so make sure you do regular maintenance on anything within your home that can produce it, like grills, fireplaces, or frequent smoking indoors. Homeowners will need to take several steps to ensure fixtures and appliances like fireplaces don't pose a danger to themselves or their homes.

Regular maintenance by a chimney sweep on your fireplace, for example, ensures that smoke will come out of the chimney with no issues, and eliminate the presence of unnecessary toxins in your house. Your fireplace opening can do everything from creating a draft problem that lets in cold air to start a chimney fire, so enlist expert help to make sure you stay healthy and safe. A quality HVAC system that is well-maintained will also help maintain healthy airflow inside your home and reduce the presence of things like cigarette or fireplace smoke, harmful gases, pollutants, and unpleasant odors.

3. Skin Cancer

While it is one of the rarer and more serious effects, it's important to be aware of the fact that some air pollutants can cause cancer. Several chemicals and compounds found in the outside air are associated with cancer risk, as is cigarette smoke. If you notice anything that gives you cause for concern, it's a good idea to talk to a dermatologist as soon as you can. While cancer is an unlikely outcome, it is still a possibility so seeing your dermatologist is the best way to make sure you identify it early. 

Pollution and toxins are a part of life that we can't control in most cases. Taking steps to reduce the presence of pollutants in your home is important, but there are still going to be instances of poor air quality that you can't do anything about. That's why it's essential to invest in products that can help your skin recover and systems like air purifiers in your home to help mitigate any side effects of the air quality that you experience. While you may not be able to eliminate air pollution, there's plenty you can do to reduce unnecessary pollutants in your life and find products to help manage their negative effects and protect your skin.