Читать книгу Good Skin - Ingrid Wood - Страница 24

Fresh air combined with certain health keys is what we should all aspire to. Unfortunately, modern lifestyles mean it’s impossible to escape the city’s byproducts. There’s no doubt that living in a city contributes to premature ageing of the skin. Chemicals such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, lead and chlorofluorocarbons (all part of what we know as pollution) set off free radicals, which lead to collagen and elastin breakdown. Furthermore, car fumes (especially leaded petrol) and dust can filter in through air vents; chemicals are released into the air by machines; modern ventilation systems restrict the supply of fresh air in office buildings; and there’s UV radiation from unnatural light sources and computer screens. Our drinking water often contains chemicals, residues of heavy metals and human wastes. Add stress to this package and it’s no wonder we’re seeing so many more cases of sensitized skin. In fact, living in a polluted city can add as much as five years to your face. The answer – other than retiring to the Alps – comes in the form of antioxidants, which are discussed in depth in chapter two (see p36).