Dr. Markus Boos Talks to The New York Times on the Effects of Climate Change on Skin
Dr. Markus Boos, a Pediatric Dermatologist at Seattle Children's Hospital and Clinical Adjunct Professor for the Division of Dermatology, recently gave an interview to The New York Times discussing the effects of climate change on our skin.
With the dramatic increase in wildfires raging across the western half of the US each year, exposure to harmful smoke has become a growing concern across the entire country. The effects of climate change have prompted many scientists to study how air pollution is threatening human health. Skin, the body’s largest and most exposed organ, is particularly susceptible to exposure to harmful air quality.
In an article titled, “Wildfire Smoke Is Hurting Your Skin,” published on August 26, 2021, Dr. Boos says the effects of air pollution on the skin is somewhat akin to the effects a long-term cigarette smoker would see on their skin.
“We all sort of know that when someone is a chronic smoker, they have that aged appearance and that yellow, sallow skin,” said Dr. Markus Boos, a pediatric dermatologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital who has studied climate change and skin health. “It’s kind of a variation on that.”
The article, which includes many high-profile dermatologists from across the country, goes on to discuss ways in which you can protect yourself from hazardous air and UV exposure including; wearing long sleeves, long pants and a mask, applying a moisturizer or serum with ceramides to help create a physical barrier on your skin, and maintaining a healthy amount vitamin C and antioxidants.
