Air pollutants induce severe alterations of the normal functions of lipids, DNA, and proteins in the human skin via oxidative damage, leading to extrinsic skin aging, inflammatory or allergic conditions such as contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, and skin cancer.

Intense infrared radiation, or heat, is detrimental to the skin. Heat increases the production of melanocyte pigment within the skin, so it can worsen melasma and other skin pigmentation concerns.

Studies demonstrate that IR and heat exposure each induces cutaneous angiogenesis, and inflammatory cellular infiltration disrupts the dermal extracellular matrix by inducing matrix metalloproteinases and altering dermal structural proteins, thereby adding to premature skin aging.

UVA rays are mainly linked to long-term skin damage such as wrinkles, but they are also thought to play a role in some skin cancers. UVB rays have slightly more energy than UVA rays. They can damage the DNA in skin cells directly and are the primary rays that cause sunburns.