How to Protect Your Skin from the Effects of High Temperatures and Wildfire Smoke

August 20, 2018

How to Protect Your Skin from the Effects of High Temperatures and Wildfire Smoke

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, as of July 27, 2018, one-hundred large fires had burned about 1.7 million acres across the U.S.

The Insurance Information Institute (III) states that the Carr fire, which broke out on July 23, 2018, in California, is the 6^th most destructive fire in the state’s history and was still not contained as of August 6^th. The Mendocino Complex fire broke out on July 27^th in Northern California and grew to be the largest fire in the state’s history with over 283,000 acres burned.

The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) states that in 2016, there were 1,342,000 fires reported in the U.S. They caused 3,390 civilian deaths, 14,650 civilian injuries, and $10.6 billion in property damage.

It sure seems like our country is burning up right now. Whether you’re dealing with wildfires in your area or just super hot temperatures, you may be feeling a little wilted. Your skin, too, is likely showing some of the effects.

How Wildfire Smoke Affects the Skin

Unfortunately, smoke from wildfires can negatively affect your skin. Just like air pollution can damage it over the long term (read our post, “How to Protect Your Skin from the Damaging Effects of Pollution”), so too can smoke particles in the air settle on your skin and lead to signs of premature aging.

You wouldn’t think that skin would absorb much of that smoke, but think again. You may already know that barbecuing produces large amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. These can cause respiratory problems and DNA mutations.

In an interesting 2018 study, researchers reported that the skin was the second-highest “exposure route” for PAHs, before even inhalation. Bystanders at the barbecue took in the most PAHs when they ate the barbecued food, but even those who didn’t eat the food tested positive for PAHs (in urine tests). Scientists found that “dermal intake”—through the skin—was greater than intake from inhalation (breathing in the smoke).

That means your skin can absorb damaging particles from smoke. Below are some of the ways smoke can be harmful:

Clogs pores: As the residue from the smoke and the fires settles on your skin, it can clog your pores and lead to an increase in acne breakouts.
Damages collagen: As the smoke and ash settles on skin, it brings other particles with it that can damage collagen, increasing risk of fine lines and wrinkles.
Dries skin: Smoke dries out the air, which in turn, dries out the skin. Skin may appear more dull or ashy, and may itch.
Encourage inflammation: Smoke increases inflammation, which can lead to increased acne breakouts, rosacea and eczema flare-ups, and other conditions that exacerbate redness.

How Excess Heat Affects Skin

Even if you don’t have fires in your area, you may still be feeling the affects of high heat and humidity. Whereas humidity can be good for skin at times, as it provides moisture and can help reduce the appearance of fine line and wrinkles, when you combine it with high heat, you lose that benefit. High temperatures allow more moisture to escape from the skin through sweat, which can actually leave you dryer.

If that sweat mixes with dirt and bacteria, it can increase risk of acne breakouts. The heat itself can cause oil-creating glands in the skin to create even more oil, again increasing the number of pimples showing up on your face, say nothing of that undesirable oily shine. Taking a dip in the pool may feel good, but the chlorine can strip your skin of natural oils and leave you dry.

For some sensitive types, the heat may increase risk of heat rash, that irritating, itchy redness that bugs you all day. The heat combined with the sweat and the dirt and dust can cause rashes to show up on the face, or on other areas of skin where clothes add friction.