Carlos Solis
Have you ever been shocked by how you look after a long day at work? If so, you’re not alone.
Social media has been buzzing about the so-called office-air theory. The theory echoes sick building syndrome, which has a scientific basis.
A familiar problem: how office air affects your appearance
Social media users have been sharing story after story about how badly office air can affect their looks. Blogger Noa Donlan drew a huge audience into the conversation.
She first noticed the difference between her morning and evening appearance when she was a college student.
“But it became clearer when I started working full-time four years ago,” Donlan recalled.
“I left the house feeling put-together, but when I later looked in the office bathroom mirror my skin was dry, my already oily hair was stuck to my head, and I didn’t feel like myself anymore!” she said.
In February Donlan posted a video about the office-air theory for the first time, showing how her appearance changed over the day. After that, many users rushed to share similar experiences, the Daily Mail reports.
Leading British microbiologist Primrose Fristoun of the University of Leicester wrote in The Conversation that sick building syndrome is “a catch-all term for symptoms that can develop after prolonged time spent in air-conditioned spaces.”
Those symptoms include headaches and dizziness, nasal congestion or a runny nose, coughing or wheezing, skin irritation or rashes, difficulty concentrating at work, and fatigue.
Dr. Fristoun says these symptoms are common among people who work in offices. However, anyone who spends long periods in air-conditioned buildings, such as hospitals, can experience them.
“The symptoms of sick building syndrome typically worsen the longer a person stays inside and ease after the person leaves the building,” the expert added.
How sick building syndrome shows up
- Headache and dizziness
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Dry, itchy skin
- Pain in the eyes or throat
- Coughing or wheezing
- Skin irritation or rashes
- Fatigue and trouble concentrating
Air conditioning dries the air — and your skin
Meanwhile, Dr. Catherine Chang, a plastic surgeon and member of the American College of Surgeons, noted that when an office fills with conditioned air — whether cold in summer or warm in winter — it seriously disrupts the skin’s moisture balance.
On her social media page, she explained: “People often feel dry in the office because of low humidity. Air conditioners tend to remove moisture from the air, making it feel drier, which in turn leads to dry skin and the appearance of fine lines and creases.”
It’s not just the office to blame
But office work isn’t the only thing that can hurt your skin. Lou Sommereks, director of the Cosmex aesthetic medicine clinic in Cambridge, UK, said living in a city center can be “hard on the skin.”
“Pollutants in the air and harmful chemical compounds can penetrate deep into the skin and cause oxidative stress, weakening the skin’s natural protective barrier,” the expert explained.
She said high concentrations of these particles disrupt pigmentation, create uneven skin tone, and clog pores, which often leads to acne. People with sensitive skin or eczema are more vulnerable to polluted air because their protective barrier is already weakened.
To address these issues, buy a humidifier and add a moisturizer and skincare products with hyaluronic acid to your daily routine.
Photo: pexels.com
