Thankfully, there are some relatively easy fixes to the age-old issue of office air, which is known to wreak havoc on our skin’s general appearance.
One of the undeniable benefits of working from home is being literally steps from whatever you might need. As remote workers keep their skin hydrated throughout their entire shift, the same could not be said for more traditional, in-office work.
The office is full of skin issues
Luxury beauty expert Anubha Charan, who has written for the likes of Marie Claire, Vogue, and WebMD, detailed the many effects of office air in a fairly recent blog post.
The first issue she described was the less-than-perfect temperature settings in an office. Some are boiling hot, while others are ridiculously cold. The result in either case is “dry, flaky, and lackluster” skin.
To rectify this, she suggested using a hydrating mist to reinject that moisture back into your skin.
The next issue arises due to dreaded overhead lighting which is known to wash you out and damage your skin. To combat this, simply wear an SPF every single day, which you should be doing already.
Another issue you might run into is the cross-contamination of germs, after all, it’s believed that 10 million bacteria are swimming on the average desk. Luckily, these can be avoided by a good old-fashioned disinfectant.
The actual air is a problem too
Besides the germs, sugary drinks, and nasty overhead lightning, the air within your office also poses a risk. Because of the “dry, recycled air”, office workers often report “dryness, flaking, irritation, itching, and more.”
Though Anubha did suggest using a dehumidifier or air filter, which could be fairly costly, she also highlighted the importance of drinking lots of water.
In the long-term, some air-purifying plants could also be a good shout. The latest research states they make a “modest contribution” to air purification.
