Mumbai: High pollution, weather change take toll on skin | Mumbai News – Times of India

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[google-translator]

MUMBAI: The city’s high pollution levels are not only leading to respiratory issues but also having a detrimental effect on skin health.
General physicians and dermatologists are noticing a marked rise in patients presenting with various skin conditions that seem to be linked with pollution after other possible allergens have been ruled out. In some rare cases, hospitalisation has been necessary.
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Dr Saurabh Shah, a dermatologist from Bhatia Hospital, has registered an increasing number of patients-12-15 in a week-experiencing dry, itchy, sensitive skin and hives, a skin allergy called urticaria, caused by pollution and a sudden change in weather. “Environmental factors such as air pollution, humidity, and temperature play a significant role in triggering and aggravating symptoms,” he said, , adding that the majority of the affected are young patients.
While the rise in skin complaints may not be as high as respiratory issues, there is a 25-30% jump in outpatient footfalls, hospitals said.
‘Rise in skin allergies, ills mainly in young patients’
An increase in airborne pollutants like PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide are known to trigger hive outbreaks among some people, said Dr Saurabh Shah, a dermatologist from Bhatia Hospital, who has seen a rise in number of patients experiencing skin conditions caused by pollution and a sudden change in weather.
Dr Neeraj Tulara, an infectious disease expert at Hiranandani Hospital, said their OPDs are seeing unusual volumes of patients with urticarias, contact dermatitis (itchy rash). “Mumbai’s significant rise in pollution levels definitely has a connection with the surge in skin allergies and diseases,” he said, concurring that the rise is mainly in young patients.
The doctor narrated two cases where even hospitalisation was necessary. A college-going boy with a history of urticaria had to be admitted to the Powai hospital due to the persistence of his rashes. In another case, a 55-year-old woman with a history of skin disease was hospitalised for two days, as her hives wouldn’t settle. Tulara said pollution can often trigger a minor viral infection, which in turn reactivates dormant skin problems in individuals. The treatment often includes a course of steroids and antihistamines. Interestingly, the doctor said that like respiratory diseases, even skin problems are lingering for weeks sometimes.
Dr Vandana Punjabi, senior dermatologist at Nanavati Hospital, has observed that many of her patients are experiencing increased oiliness (seborrhea) on the face, chest, back and scalp, leading to aggravation of acne and scalp folliculitis. She has also noted an increase in dryness of skin and worsening of skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
“Air pollutants can cause skin damage by inducing oxidative stress, which can exacerbate a range of skin conditions,” Punjabi said. Oxidative stress happens when there are too many harmful molecules called free radicals in the body and not enough antioxidants to neutralise them. Factors such as pollution, poor diet, and smoking can increase oxidative stress in the body. In addition, people who are exposed to long-term outdoor pollution tend to show signs of premature ageing, such as skin laxity and wrinkles.

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