State rankings of poor air quality are out. How did Georgia do? (hint: it’s not great)
If you’ve noticed some changes in your skin’s appearance and texture, you may have the state you live in to blame. Studies have shown that Georgia is the worst state to live in for skin health, beating out some surprising competitors.
Clarins, a world-renowned skincare and makeup brand has been in the beauty and wellness space for more than 70 years. The company collected data with some pretty bleak findings for Georgia, revealing this state as the worst in skin-damaging air quality, scoring a 41.8 out of 48 on a pollution index, with 48 being the worst it can get.
Georgia also came in with a fairly high number of bad pollution days: 176 days of the year which is almost half the year (48%). Marla Ibrahim, Clarins’ skin expert, issued a warning for Georgia residents: “The level of air quality where you live can have a big impact on your skin health leading to a whole host of problems from dehydration and skin barrier damage to the more serious issues of premature aging.”
While Georgia topped the bad air list, the other states in the top five were California with an index of 47, Arizona (46), Alabama (45) and Texas (45). Maine was the lowest at a 1 index, followed by Vermont (2) and New Hampshire (3).
Why is the air so bad?
In some more rural parts of the state the air quality is safer and cleaner, but it’s the larger cities that do the most damage. Factors that contribute to the high pollution index:
Vehicle emissions - older makes of cars don’t have the same emission control and can exacerbate the issue.
Industrial activities - the paper mills of Columbus and the area have historically caused poor air quality in Central and South Georgia.
Prescribed burns - even though they are often for other good reasons, the smoke from the fires can lead to rises in particulate matter levels which temporarily degrade quality of the air.
Fewer green spaces - dwindling outdoor parks and recreation areas remove natural air filters.
How can you protect your skin?
The first and most obvious way to reduce damage is to limit the amount of time you are in the open air and sun. Buckhead Dermatology in Atlanta offers some other ways to help keep your skin protected:
Change your air filters in your home often
Use a humidifier when necessary
Bathe and brush your pets often
Use a lightweight scarf to protect exposed skin
Stop smoking and stay away from second-hand smoke (this includes vaping)
Use skin care products that contain Vitamin C
Thoughts about Georgia’s air quality and our ranking? sound off in the comments, or you can email me and find me on Instagram.
This story was originally published May 29, 2024 at 2:05 PM.
