Skin Conditions That Can Be Caused by Fine Dust, as Introduced by Imiseok Thema Dermatology

Skin conditions that can be caused by fine dust

The ultrafine dust that had been quiet for a while has returned. On October 20, the daily average concentration of ultrafine dust in Seoul, southern Gyeonggi, and the Chungcheong region rose to the “bad” level. Fine dust is made up of harmful substances such as ionic components like sulfate, nitrate, and ammonia, as well as metal compounds and carbon compounds, and it is regarded as a major cause of various skin conditions, making it a concern for many people.

It is especially so fine and small that it is invisible to the naked eye, making it easy to enter the skin. As a result, it can trigger not only various allergies but also acne and breakouts.

Fine dust mixes with sebum and causes various problems. In particular, if you already feel stressed about acne, atopic dermatitis, hair loss, and similar issues, fine dust becomes a factor that can further worsen skin conditions.

What skin conditions should you be careful about when fine dust is severe?

Fine dust contains heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and aluminum. Moreover, the particles are extremely small, so they penetrate deep into pores. This mixes with sebum and causes acne. However, these days, because wearing masks has become part of daily life due to COVID-19, many people think that the skin problems they are experiencing are caused not by fine dust but by masks.

But if you touch your face with unclean hands while outside in a place full of fine dust, or leave your skin unwashed after going out, secondary infection can occur.

To prevent acne caused by fine dust, cleanliness is important, such as washing your hands and feet thoroughly after going out. In particular, if you leave skin that has become dirty with sweat and dust untreated, capillaries can constrict and blood circulation can slow down, which may even lead to skin aging.

If someone who already suffers from atopic dermatitis is exposed to fine dust, their atopic symptoms can worsen. For atopic dermatitis patients, itching tends to become more severe in dry spring weather, and fine dust can enter wounds and make symptoms worse.

Because atopic dermatitis patients are more sensitive to changes in the external environment than the general public, if fine dust is severe, they should strictly follow prevention guidelines. If going out is unavoidable, it is best to minimize skin exposure by wearing a dust-proof mask.

It is also advisable to maintain an appropriate living temperature (18–20°C) and humidity (50–60%), and after going out, be sure to wash your face with lukewarm water and apply plenty of moisturizer. In particular, patients with atopic dermatitis are very sensitive to skin irritation, so wearing cotton clothing is recommended.

Does fine dust also adversely affect the scalp?

When fine dust is severe, you also need to pay attention to scalp health. If fine dust sticks to the hair, it blocks scalp pores and interferes with scalp breathing. In particular, it slows down the activity of follicle cells that produce hair, making hair more likely to fall out even with minor irritation.

Therefore, if fine dust is severe, it is advisable to avoid going out. If going out is unavoidable, it is better to wear a hat. In particular, it is best to avoid using styling products such as hair gel, spray, and mousse.

Prevention of fine dust is the top priority, but if skin trouble has already occurred, it may be difficult to improve through self-care alone. Therefore, if skin problems appear after going out on a day with severe fine dust, you should visit a dermatology clinic for a thorough examination and receive appropriate treatment.

Acne should be treated according to its type and symptoms. It is best to undergo acne treatment by combining premium laser treatment, which selectively destroys the sebaceous glands that are the main cause of acne, with medical skin care that helps restore skin damaged by acne.

If fine dust blocks pores and interferes with scalp breathing, it is a good idea to receive scalp scaling to keep the scalp clean.

At Imiseok Thema Dermatology, we do not focus on only temporary symptom relief; instead, we consider and treat the root causes of skin problems. Since opening in 1995, based on more than 600,000 clinical cases, we have made it our principle to provide systematic, individualized treatment for skin concerns. As a way to provide the best treatment services, we use more than 60 of the latest laser and medical devices, and we also help resolve a wide range of skin concerns through medical skin care.

If you have any questions about various skin concerns, please contact Imiseok Thema Dermatology.