The environment you live in has a profound effect on every organ in your body, including the skin. Depending on factors such as the quality of air around you, humidity, and the amount of sunshine you’re exposed to, your skin either glow or turn pale. So, by that logic, places that are environmentally-friendly are healthier for your skin than those with toxic substances in them.
There are certain cities in the country that are better for your skin health compared to others. Before we list them, though, let us go through the factors that determine how good a place is for the health and well-being of your skin.
- Air quality
If the air around you is toxic, your skin suffers a great deal. That is because it takes in everything the air has to offer, from vitamins to moisture and toxins. So, the more toxins, the worse your skin gets. Therefore, cities that have poor air quality are bad for your skin.
- Humidity
Another factor that decides how good a place is for skin health is humidity. The more humid the air, the better it is. Humidity helps make the skin radiant and youthful, and it blurs signs of aging, thus creating an all-around glow.
- Smoking rate
As you’d expect, cities that have a higher smoking rate are more harmful to your skin. Smoking affects the quality of air, adding unwanted toxins to it. When these toxins enter the skin, they lead to dehydration and premature aging.
- Exposure to sunlight
The amount of sunlight a place receives also has an impact on skin health. For instance, skin cancer, which affects millions of Americans every year, is more common in cities that receive higher amounts of sunlight.
Best cities for skin health
Based on the mixture of these factors, the best cities for your skin are:
- El Paso, Texas
The west of Texas is great from an environmental standpoint. It has a cool climate, and the smoking rate is fairly low. That said, there aren’t many skincare professionals in the city.
- San Antonio, Texas
Pollution-wise, San Antonio does even better than El Paso. It has one of the cleanest air in the country, and the rate of smoking is low as well.
- Austin, Texas
Austin is also a great choice if you want healthy, radiant skin.
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis scores well on the pollution and smoking front, although skin cancer is quite prevalent in the city.
- Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa’s air quality index rating (AQI) is decent, and the city remains humid most of the time.
Worst cities for skin health
Here’s a ranking of the worst US cities to live in if you love your skin.
- Port St. Lucie, Florida
- Akron, Ohio
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- St. Petersburg, Florida
- Cape Coral, Florida
