The Big Story How is climate change exacerbating skin diseases?
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Jul 31, 2025 Wynne Armand, an Associate Director at Mass General Hospital Centre for the Environment and Health and an Associate Professor at Harvard, dives into how climate change is worsening skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis. She discusses the impact of pollution and heat on our skin barriers. Listeners learn how to adjust their sun protection strategies, with a focus on the importance of mineral-based sunscreens. Armand also emphasizes the need for basic skincare over complex routines and offers tips for improving indoor air quality to protect skin health.
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Causes of Skin Diseases
- Inflammatory skin diseases like eczema and acne have both hereditary and environmental causes.
- Acne involves gland obstruction, debris, and bacteria triggering inflammation during life stages with more sebum and sweat production.
Monitor Air Quality for Skin Health
- Monitor air quality to reduce skin disease flare-ups caused by pollution and heat.
- Avoid outdoor exposure during poor air quality to protect your skin's barrier and immune response.
Climate Change Worsens Skin Flora
- Rising temperatures cause shifts in skin bacteria and increased sweating, worsening acne and eczema symptoms.
- Wildfires linked to climate change exacerbate skin inflammatory conditions due to pollutant exposure.