No one wants to get old. Or, at least, no one wants to look old, which is now much more likely to happen as we live longer. Anti-aging happens to be a big industry.
Yet far too many of us invite (or at least tolerate) exactly the kinds of environmental toxins that are known to age us prematurely.
Is there a remedy? Is there really any hope of looking younger (and staying that way) without having to go under the knife or slather on creams or drink potions that promise youthfulness?
The new science of indoor air quality says YES, there is an alternative. And it is an alternative that will not only slow down the clock on the aging process but will also help you and every member of your family feel better, too!
In this post, learn about the proven, research-supported anti-aging impact of improving your indoor air quality.
First, Eliminate the Airborne Killers
First things first: there are some airborne toxins, whether liquid, gaseous or particulate (solid), that are so toxic they can kill you.
While this neatly eradicates concerns about anti-aging, it is also deeply undesirable for reasons too obvious to mention.
Such silent killers include carbon monoxide, radon, byproducts from burning fossil fuels, agricultural pesticides and ammonia off-gassing and many more.
Airborne Toxins Settle On Your Skin
It can feel easy enough to trust that when you go to wash your face in the morning and at night, any toxins that were on your skin just get washed away.
Unfortunately, medical science shows that these toxins re-accumulate readily because they are circulating in our air both indoors and outdoors.
Airborne particulate matter – small solid airborne particles – are some of the worst offenders for early skin aging.
With ongoing unchecked exposure, researchers have verified that today’s adults are likely to endure a 20 percent increase in age spots, premature wrinkling and skin sagging on areas of the skin that are chronically exposed to outdoor air and ultraviolet light.
Other pollution-related skin damage comes in the form of chronic redness and inflammation, rosacea, uneven skin tone, acne-like breakouts even late in life, loose skin, hives and skin cancer.
But Don’t These Toxins Just Stay Outside?
We sure wish they did! But the days when you can just go inside and shut the door and feel safe from airborne toxins have long since disappeared.
In one recent research study, scientists discovered potent concentrations of toxic particulate matter and gaseous toxins like nitrogen dioxide inside the homes of study participants.
One surprising source of such indoor air toxins is cooking! In the study, researchers discovered that cooking with fossil fuels is directly correlated with increased signs of skin aging.
Another not-so-surprising source of airborne skin-aging toxins is tobacco use. Smoking and vaping are two of the most common causes of chronic, long-term exposure to polluted indoor air. Here, the impact to skin is equally severe for both tobacco users and non-users who are exposed to secondhand smoke.
Where Do You Spend Most of Your Daily Time?
In the days before most homes had air conditioning and the internet was still just a gleam in the technology industry’s eye, people used to spend a lot more time outdoors.
But today, the average Canadian reports spending 90 percent of their time inside (which for some means as little as five minutes a day outdoors).
It stands to reason, then, that if outdoor air pollution were the major cause of premature skin aging, we wouldn’t really need all the skin creams and lotions and potions that promise to turn back the clock.
But from burning candles to chemical-laden cleaning sprays and perfumes, formaldehyde-laced fabrics and manufactured woods, pesticides and home renovation adhesives, we can’t seem to go anywhere or do anything inside anymore without exposure to airborne toxins.
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to find a list of ingredients for your favorite perfumes? The label is mysteriously silent on the topic of just how the manufacturer managed to replicate natural fragrances such as gardenia or rose – without using any elements of either.
Some fragrances and scents may contain 100 to 300 or more ingredients – most of them unpronounceable chemicals. Many we spritz or roll directly onto our skin daily in the form of deodorants, body lotions, cologne, lipstick or hairspray, not giving any of it a second thought.
Long story short, every spritz, every roll, every squeeze sends more chemicals out into our indoor air and also onto our rapidly aging skin.
Look Younger, Feel Better, Stay Safer By Cleaning Up Your Indoor Air
Here at Clean Air Solutions Hamilton, business was more than a little slow when we first opened our doors a few decades ago.
Today, we stay very busy! From parents concerned about the children’s chronic bronchitis to employers eager to lower health insurance payouts, our phone rings daily with inquiries about the best and most effective ways to purify indoor air.
These are the steps we recommend:
- Start by scheduling a professional indoor air duct cleaning. Get all those toxins out and hit the reset button on your entire indoor air quality situation.
- Conduct a simple indoor air quality. In a single 72-hour period, get a full-color, multi-page printout of every toxin in your space.
- Install a heat recovery ventilator. Ensure fresh, clean, oxygenated air is always flowing in and humid, stale, stinky, toxic air is being pushed out.
- Purify with an ultraviolet air purifier. Whole-home and portable units exist to neutralize gaseous and liquid toxins so they can do no harm.
- Filter with a HEPA-grade filtration system. Whole-home and portable units exist to filter out toxins as small as 1/100th of a single human hair.
Get in Touch
Contact us online or give us a call at 905-544-2470.
