We receive lots of enquiries from customers experiencing unsettled skin after relocating to a new city or country.
Along with products, diet and lifestyle – our environment can play a huge role in determining skin health.
So, if you find your skin isn’t behaving, consider whether the city you live in might be to blame. This could be down to any of the following factors…
Water
We wash our bodies and face in it every day, but water in certain cities can cause skin issues.
Here in London (UK), water is extremely ‘hard’ – meaning it contains higher levels of mineral salts such as calcium and magnesium. These mineral deposits can deplete moisture levels in the skin, exacerbating conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Mineral salts also prevent foaming products working fully, so you have to use much more product to get the desired effect. Foaming products contain harsh detergents which strip the skin of its natural oils. They are also harder to rinse off in hard water so soap residues can remain on the skin causing irritation.
If you’re experiencing problems with hard water where you live, invest in a soft water filter for your household taps and shower head.
See table below for examples of soft and hard water cities in the UK and worldwide.
| Soft | Hard | Very Hard |
| Leeds, Swansea, Truro | Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle | Bristol, London, Southampton |
| New York, Sydney, Vancouver | San Diego, Houston | Adelaide, Washington |
Humidity
Low humidity levels can leave skin dry, dull and tight (think aeroplane skin)! For sensitive types especially, this can make skin more irritable and prone to flakiness and itchiness.
In a tale of two excesses, high humidity can be just as disruptive – blocking pores, causing spots and breakouts.
Pollution
In very congested cities high levels of air pollution can cause any number of skin complaints.
Damaging free radicals in cigarette smoke, car exhaust fumes and smog can cause premature ageing by breaking down Collagen and the fibres that keep the skin elastic.
Contaminants in the air can also interfere with the skin’s ability to regulate moisture levels – causing imbalances, irritation and redness.
Temperature
Living in a city with extreme temperatures means blasting central heating in the Winter, and freezing air-conditioning in the Summer – both of which dry out the skin and attack the immune system (think of all that recycled germ-y air!).
Avoid sleeping in overly heated or cooled rooms, and open a window occasionally to get some fresh air flowing!
What do you think? Have you experienced skin disruption after changing where you live?
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