Can Sleeping With an Air Purifier on Improve Your Skin?
Most of us desire soft, clear, and blemish-free skin. This is evident from the amount of money we spend in pursuit of the perfect complexion. In 2018, 1.6 million people in the US spent $2,000 a year or more on their skin care products alone.
This might surprise you, but one effective skin care tool that will improve your skin and save you money in the long run is an air purifier. By removing toxins and irritants from the air, these appliances have many benefits for your skin and might even reduce your need to purchase expensive skin creams and lotions.
In this article, we examine why poor air quality is damaging to your skin and how sleeping with an air purifier on can help to boost your complexion and fight aging.
Why You Should Invest in an Air Purifier
Pollution has been a leading concern in the industrialized world over the past several decades. Air quality has been slowly declining in cities and rural areas alike around the globe. Since the pollution is in the very air we breathe every day, there’s no doubt that it’s detrimental to our health. While much of the focus of research is on respiratory and internal health, air pollution can affect us externally too.
Air pollution isn’t just an outdoor problem, either. Many people, especially city dwellers, live in high rise rentals and apartments. When the weather is poor, or the heating is on, it’s tempting to keep the windows closed. Unfortunately, though, this can have a very negative impact on your health. Airborne toxins gather in the home from cooking fumes, heating, cleaning sprays; at the same time, outdoor pollution can also enter the home through open windows. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the air inside our homes can be as much as two to five times more toxic than the air outside.
It’s not all bad news, though, because air purifiers can reduce pollution and other harmful airborne particles to provide health benefits. Made up of a system of fans and filters, air purifiers pull in dirty air through the intake vent at the front of the air purifier and then pass it through the filters. These filters are specifically designed to remove harmful airborne particles, which can cause everything from allergies to skin irritation. The small fans at the rear of the air purifier then circulate the clean air back into the room in a continuous cycle.
The Benefits of Air Purifiers for Your Skin
Pollutants, airborne bacteria and toxic fumes can all damage your skin. Unfortunately, avoiding all of these irritants isn’t simple; therefore, using an air purifier at home can be just what you need to help protect your skin day-to-day. Some of the main skin benefits of using an air purifier include:
Say Bye-Bye to Acne Problems
The skin on your face is more sensitive than the rest of your body, which means it can be more susceptible to germs and dirt. It’s common knowledge, for example, that frequently touching your face with unclean hands can cause adverse reactions in the form of spots or rashes. Airborne bacteria works in a very similar fashion. The toxins in the air can cause you to break out in spots and exacerbate any already existing acne problems. Investing in an air purifier will increase your chances of saying goodbye to acne forever, since airborne bacteria is captured and eradicated before it settles onto your skin.
Reduce Frequency of Skin Rashes and Dryness
Skin irritation can result from a variety of sources, from the use of a new soap or an allergic reaction to something you’ve eaten. One thing we rarely consider, though, is the quality of the air around us and its direct link to skin conditions. Conditions like eczema can flare up and worsen due to irritants such as pollen that find their way into your home. We usually turn to creams and lotions to manage these problems; however, a preventive investment in an air purifier could eliminate this need.
Aging Slowly and Gracefully
It’s inevitable that our skin and appearance will show signs of aging as the years pass. Americans spend around 16 billion dollars on cosmetic plastic surgery every year, with many of the procedures being sought involve facial lifts and skin tightening all to reduce the appearance of aging. Many of us are conscious of using sunscreen to protect our skin. This is because we are aware that ultraviolet exposure can accelerate aging. Free-flowing particles in the atmosphere that come from dust, smoke and pollen, however, can also settle on your skin and negatively impact your skin’s collagen, a structural protein which gives it its youthfulness and elasticity. These toxins and irritants can cause the collagen to break down and make your skin sag. Since air purifiers work to contain and eliminate these particles from the air, though, using an air purifier can help to delay the degradation of collagen and thus slow down the aging process.
Improve Your Sleep Quality
Many people struggle to get a decent night’s sleep due to congestion and irritated airways caused by dust and other particles in the air. Not only does a lack of quality sleep make you feel tired and unproductive the next day, but it can also wreak havoc on your skin. Not getting enough sleep lowers the moisture levels in the upper layers of your skin, disrupting the PH balance and leading to a dull, dry complexion. If you have sensitive skin, you can also suffer from increased redness and an upsurge in breakouts. By sleeping with an air purifier in your bedroom, you will be able to get a good night’s rest due to a lack of irritants circulating in the air. Alongside all the other benefits of purified air, this will help your skin rejuvenate overnight so you can wake up with a glowing, healthy complexion.
When to Use an Air Purifier for Healthy Skin
Air purifiers are designed to be used around the clock. This is because having good quality air is not something limited to the day or night. Some of the higher budget air purifiers also have an inbuilt sensor which adjusts the speed of the fan to save energy and keep your electricity bill in check.
If you want to use your air purifier to improve your skin, though, then the best time will be at night while you sleep. This is because skin cell turnover and regeneration increases at night, making it the perfect time to let your skin renew and repair. Since you’ll spend most of these nighttime hours in your bedroom, this room is the perfect place to position your air purifier for optimal skin results.
How to Choose The Best Type of Air Purifier for Your Skin
Any air purifier that works to eliminate unwanted and harmful particles from the air is going to be beneficial for skin health. But choosing a HEPA air purifier will help you to achieve your objectives more efficiently.
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. Air purifiers with HEPA filtration are fitted with dense, high-quality filters that are extremely efficient at capturing even the tiniest of particles of everything likely to be found in your home that could cause a negative effect on your health and your skin. A HEPA label is not easy to achieve. Any air purifier that carries this label has to meet the standards set by the US Department of Energy. You should be aware that any product that says “HEPA-type” is not a true HEPA certified air purifier and may not be as efficient.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bedroom Air Purifier
Now that we’ve established night time is the most efficient time to use your air purifier, here are a few things you should consider to ensure that the air purifier you purchase will aid, rather than hinder, your sleep:
- Noise levels: When looking for an air purifier to use overnight, you’ll want to choose a quiet model that doesn’t create much noise when in use.
- Size: The ambiance and aesthetics of the bedroom are quite important in creating an atmosphere that welcomes sleep and rest. To this end, you may want a small, compact, and lightweight air purifier which will do its job without taking over your private space.
- Extra features: Some air purifiers are specifically designed for the bedroom and include a night light or a pink noise (a less static tone than white noise) feature to help you sleep. If these factors are important to you, be sure to select one that carries these extra options.
How to Maintain Your Air Purifier for Beautiful Skin
If you want to continue to get the best results from your air purifier, you’ll need to ensure it is kept clean. Each model should come with special manufacturers guidelines to help you clean and maintain the filters and inner workings. The following list, however, offers a few general steps that will help you with general cleaning and maintenance:
- Unplug the air purifier.
- Wipe down the external part of the appliance with a damp cloth.
- Clear the top air vent with a small brush.
- The front grill where the air is taken in can usually be removed for cleaning on the inside. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for this.
- When cleaning the inside, only use a dry cloth.
Final Thoughts
Alongside drinking plenty of water, quitting smoking, and limiting sun exposure, using an air purifier in your bedroom can support a glowing complexion and slow down the aging process. By removing particles that would otherwise breakdown the collagen in your skin, an air purifier will give your skin the best chances of maintaining its youthful appearance for longer.
A HEPA label air purifier will be the most efficient at capturing irritating particles, dust, and airborne bacteria from the air to keep your atmosphere healthy and allergen free. Make sure, though, that whatever model you choose that it helps – rather than hinders – your sleep so that you can wake up refreshed and with rejuvenated skin.