Survey finds most Americans do not protect skin against pollution

Most Americans do not seek protection for the skin against airborne pollution and other environmental stressors, according to recent survey results.

The survey found that 33% of the slightly more than 2,000 Americans polled purchased skin care products to protect their skin from pollution and environmental stressors, including traffic and car exhaust, factors and power plants and secondhand smoke, although a majority understood the risk of the exposure to the chemicals, according to a press release from H2O+ Beauty. The survey was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of H2O+ Beauty in January 2017.

“The data indicates a serious rift between general awareness of the damage that pollution can cause to your skin and the understanding that you can shield your skin from harm with certain products,” Joy Chen, CEO of H2O+ Beauty, stated in the release.

The release included the American Lung Association’s report that nearly half of the people in the United States live in counties with unhealthy level of ozone or particle pollution.

As air pollution particles are 20 times smaller than skin pores, they easily penetrate the skin barrier, according to the release.

The survey found that 68% of respondents indicated they were more likely to purchase a product for sun protection. It also found that men considered skin protection less of a priority, with 55% of men more likely to purchase products if they protected skin against environmental pollutants, compared with 62% of women, according the release.

Reference: www.h2oplus.com