We know the toll pollution takes on the environment, but did you know it also adversely affects your skin? Researchers are now finding that pollution not only causes a dull complexion, but it can also cause uneven skin tone, accelerated aging and even skin cancer. In fact, only the sun is a great cause of these ails.According to a  landmark study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, researchers compared women living in urban and rural environments over the course of 24 years and found that those exposed to increased pollution had more dark spots and wrinkling. Kind of makes you want to move to the country, right?

Just How is This Happening?

The tiny particle size of most pollution —sometimes as many as 20 times smaller than pores—allows them to infiltrate deeper layers of the epidermis, causing not only inflammation and dehydration but also a cellular-level reaction that leads to lost elasticity and firmness. It breaks down collagen and the lipid barrier of the skin, which impairs skin barrier functions. Luckily, this is one cause of premature aging that you can help prevent. Just a few simple changes to your beauty routine, such as proper cleansing and using antioxidants every day, can have a big, positive impact on skin.

Here are 3 Simple Changes You Can Make to Protect Your Skin:

Don’t worry, we aren’t going to leave you trying to figure out a solution on your own. There are a few simple things you can do to help prevent premature signs of aging caused by pollution.

1. Cleanse the Pollution Away
Washing your face thoroughly twice daily with a is imperative to keeping skin healthy. Find a cleanser that is gentle enough that it doesn’t skin dry but is still strong enough to remove the dirt and impurities of the day. Theraderm Cleansing Wash is a soap-free, oil-free that cleanses skin of dirt, oils and cellular debris.

2. Neutralize it
Pollution on your skin is nothing more than a free-radical and the best way to take care of them is with an antioxidant. These highly unstable molecules literally bounce around in your skin poking tiny holes in the collagen. This is not a good thing as collagen is what gives your skin firmness. Not only will they cause skin laxity - but if left on their own, they can eventually damage DNA and cause cancer. Enter - antioxidants. Antioxidants work by donating an electron where needed effectively neutralizing free radicals. To protect your skin, apply an antioxidant-rich serum over the surface of skin, twice daily. Theraderm OPC Reparative Serum contains the antioxidant, pycnogenol, which is 20 times more powerful than Vitamin c and 50 times more powerful than Vitamin e as a free-radical scavenger.

3. Create a Protective Barrier
Because UV rays from the sun are also considered free radicals, wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen is imperative for the prevention of damage from pollution. UV rays exacerbate any condition that is already present so if you live in a highly polluted environment, sunscreen is a must. And don’t simply rely on the sunscreen that is in your makeup. You need a stand-alone layer of protection for optimal results. Theraderm Platinum Protection Facial Sunscreen is the perfect solution. With an SPF of 43, it has broad-spectrum protection protecting against both UVA and UVA rays.