All This Wildfire Smoke Can Impact Your Skin, Too—Here’s What to Do

How wildfire smoke affects skin

If the view outside your office window is a bit hazy, or the smell of campfire shocked your nose before your commute this morning, that’s the result of Canadian wildfires. Blankets of smoke are covering the Northeast and Midwest, causing unhealthy air quality that can be dangerous. I don’t think I need to tell you that keeping your lungs safe is the most important thing to worry about right now. Limit strenuous exercise outdoors (in fact, stay indoors if possible), run your air conditioner or air purifier, keep windows closed, and wear an N95 or KN95 mask if you’ll be outdoors for a long time.

But as smoke levels fluctuate, it begs the question: How is all this smog affecting your skin, and how can you keep both your lungs and skin healthy?

For what it’s worth, there haven’t been enough studies yet on the impacts of air pollution from wildfires on skin. But the small number of studies that have been done do show evidence that it can increase skin flare-ups, particularly for irritation, eczema, and psoriasis. So it’s definitely important to keep this all in mind if you already deal with skin issues.

Smoke pollution is most likely to dry out your skin, as the tiny particles in the smoke can settle on your skin and strip it of moisture. With prolonged exposure, this could make your skin feel tight, dry, itchy, and splotchy. Your skin barrier helps try to block out the pollutants, but over time, smoke can irritate and compromise your barrier. These particles can also potentially aggravate acne by causing inflammation and clogged pores.

Smoke also generates free radicals, which over time can damage your skin by creating oxidative stress (this can break down collagen, causing premature wrinkles, sagging skin, and dullness). Needless to say, it’s not great for your skin. Keep in mind, though, that the occasional smoke in the air, like what’s happening right now, isn’t enough to make this all happen overnight. That’s not to say you shouldn’t take precautions to mitigate potential dryness. Which brings us to...

How to protect your skin from wildfire smoke and poor air quality

First of all, take care of your health first by following the precautions set by the EPA. Stay indoors, wear a mask if you’ll be outside, and keep windows closed. But if you also want to take some measures to mitigate skin concerns, focus on barrier support most of all.

Coat your skin in moisture

Not just any moisture, though. A combination of hydrating and sealing is key here. Layer on a moisturizer filled with glycerin, squalane, hyaluronic acid, and/or ceramides that will pull water into your skin and actually offer hydration. Then, seal all of that in with oils, butters, and barrier creams. Not only will this help prevent water loss, but it can act as a defense against any poor air quality that could irritate, dry out, and/or damage skin.

Wear a mask

A mask not only will help you breathe better, but it can actually reduce some of the harsh air from getting onto your skin, protecting you from potential irritation and even acne. A wide-brimmed hat or cap can also be beneficial to shield your face as much as possible. If it’s doable with the heat index where you are, consider wearing protective clothing, covering up as much of your skin as possible to avoid exposure.

Don’t forget sunscreen

While SPF can’t necessarily protect against pollutant damage, it’s still imperative to protect yourself against UV rays, which can still penetrate your skin, even if the air is covered in smoke. As always, opt for an SPF 30 or higher and reapply if you’ll be outside for long periods.

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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair, makeup, nail, and fragrance stories.

Beth Gillette

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.