A recent study published on March 12 in PLOS Global Public Health suggests that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is significantly associated with increased skin redness, regardless of age.
Researchers led by Fu-Yu Chan, Ph.D., from National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, analyzed the effects of PM2.5 on skin redness, focusing on the role of sebum production in different age groups. The study involved 472 participants, including 240 individuals aged 20 to 59 and 232 individuals over 60.
Findings revealed a strong correlation between PM2.5 levels and skin redness across both age groups. For individuals aged 20 to 59, each unit increase in PM2.5 was linked to a 1.70-unit rise in redness area, while those over 60 experienced a 2.63-unit increase. Additionally, researchers identified a positive association between porphyrins—substances produced by bacteria on the skin—and redness in the younger age group, though no such link was observed in older participants.
The study suggests that interactions between PM2.5’s lipophilic and carcinogenic components and porphyrins may contribute to elevated skin redness, potentially increasing the risk of chronic skin conditions and even skin cancer. The researchers recommend that public health authorities conduct annual skin health screenings, using skin redness as a potential marker of PM2.5 exposure to assess broader health impacts of air pollution.
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