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Now that wildfire smoke has become a fixture of PNW summers and autumns, you’ve probably heard how it’s important to protect your airway and lungs from inhaling too much of it. But did you also know you should protect your skin?
Smoke and other air pollutants can cause skin irritation, especially in people who have chronic skin conditions like eczema. Here’s what you need to know.
Why does wildfire smoke worsen skin conditions?
It may seem strange that your skin can be affected by smoke, especially if you aren’t in an area with thick, hazardous levels of it.
But your skin is your body’s largest organ; the outermost layer of skin, called the epidermis, helps protect you from infectious agents you’re exposed to in daily life, like viruses and bacteria. So when there’s a lot of pollution — including wildfire smoke — your skin treats it as a foreign substance that shouldn’t be allowed to enter your body.
“When particulate matter from smoke or other pollutants touches the skin, it actually activates cellular pathways in skin cells, a process that mimics the disease process of eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions,” says Markus Boos, MD, a clinical adjunct professor of dermatology and associate professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine who treats patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
The type of particulate matter makes a difference, too. Really small particles — often referred to as PM2.5 — are the worst offenders. And, what do you know, that’s what wildfire smoke is usually made up of.
“While no pollution is good, wildfire smoke is actually worse than other types of air pollution — like car exhaust — because of how many different types of contaminants can be in it,” says Mollie Grow, MD, a pediatrician at UW Medical Center – Roosevelt.
There’s enough evidence from research to show that wildfire smoke pollution worsens eczema and other skin conditions, even during short periods of exposure. But whether or not it can actually cause these conditions in people who don’t already have them still needs to be determined.
Who is most at risk from smoke pollution?
While anyone with a skin condition like eczema could experience a flare-up during smoky season, some people are more at risk.
Anyone who lives in a hotter climate has to deal with the way heat affects their skin, too. In the Seattle area, some places — including those historically redlined due to racism and segregation — are hotter than others because there is less tree cover (which means less shade).
Eczema is already more common among Black and Hispanic kids, as well as LGBTQ+ people; some research suggests this is because they are more likely to live in areas with higher pollution, Boos says.
“There was a study looking at eczema and other social determinants of health, and it found that people who lived in more segregated areas throughout the U.S. were more likely to have worse eczema,” he says.
People who have the atopic triad — eczema, asthma and seasonal allergies — may also be more at risk.
“The atopic triad seems to be a vulnerability in the way the immune system responds to environmental factors,” says Grow.
How can you protect your skin from smoke pollution?
Unfortunately, there is still very little research on how to best help your skin heal if you’ve been exposed to wildfire smoke that triggered a flare in your symptoms.
“Is washing your skin helpful, or will it make you flare more because it still causes a little damage? Do you put on a lotion or barrier like Vaseline? We don’t know,” says Boos.
However, there are a few things you can do to prevent flares in the first place.
Filter indoor air
Even if you keep all your windows shut on smoky days, pollution from outside will still make its way inside. Use air purifiers to keep indoor air quality at a healthy level. And if those are too expensive for you, try making a DIY box fan with a few supplies from the hardware store. Keeping your home environment cool is important, too; if you don’t have AC, use fans or a portable air conditioner.
Wear long-sleeved clothing
Minimizing the amount of particulate matter from smoke that’s touching your skin should help prevent a flare-up. Long sleeves and ankle-length pants or skirts are best. While you’re at it, wear sun-protective clothing and hats, plus N95 masks, which will keep your lungs protected.
Stay indoors when possible
If the smoke is really thick and the air quality is awful, it’s best to stay inside as much as you can. If you normally exercise outside, try to find ways to do so indoors so you’re still getting some movement in. It can be especially hard for kids not to be able to go outside, so if you’re a parent or guardian, do your best to balance safety with allowing kids access to nature, which has tons of health benefits.
Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned
There are medications that can help with eczema and other skin condition flares, so if you’re noticing worse symptoms during smoke season, it’s important to talk with your doctor about it.
“Being more aware, hopefully people can get the care they need and be a little more proactive, as can doctors, to change risk and vulnerability,” says Grow.
