HOW TO BE A PLANT PARENT THE SCIENCE OF SKIN CARE

Skin is the largest organ in the body and the outer barrier preventing harmful bacteria from entering the immune system. It is made up of three layers: the hypodermis, dermis, and epidermis. The hypodermis regulates body temperature and stores energy, but it is also where skin cancer is most likely to develop. Therefore, it is always important to protect the hypodermis layer with sunscreen. The dermis is composed of elastic tissue, collagen, nerve endings, and hair follicles. It assists with the thermo-regulation of the hypodermis and is where sensations come from. The top layer is the epidermis, which keeps moisture inside the body and produces new skin cells. To keep the epidermis healthy, one should drink plenty of water and regularly cleanse their skin.

Cleansing one’s skin is key in maintaining a healthy dermis. Washing all the excess dirt, makeup, and oil out of one’s pores keeps one’s skin healthy and clear. This process also prevents acne and dehydration. Cleansing every day manages the pH levels of the skin and enables water retention. The skin is naturally acidic with an average pH of 4.7, which helps boost its immune system. However, skin products with too much alkalinity can disrupt this natural acidity, making the skin vulnerable to dryness, breakouts, and inflammation. Therefore, choosing the gentle, appropriate products is also important to maintain healthy skin. Additionally, neglecting to wash one’s skin can cause oil and dirt buildup at best, and redness, dryness, and irritation at worst. All of these side effects can scratch the skin and create openings for infection. Moisturizers hydrate the skin, preventing it from drying out.

pots with drainage holes, which allow excess water to filter out of the pot instead of accumulating at the bottom.

On the other hand, for those who tend to be more stingy with water, try the snake plant. Not only is it great at purifying the air and releasing oxygen, but the snake plant is also resistant to drastic changes in sunlight. These plants can go weeks without water or moisture, which makes them easy to take care of. Another easy option is growing succulents. Succulents can sit in direct sunlight and do not need much water—just shower them around twice a week or whenever the top inch of soil is dry. Because they come from climates with low rainfall, strong sunlight, and low humidity, succulents have cells in their leaves that expand during rainy weather to absorb water and shrink during droughts to conserve water, as well as a type of fluid that helps their leaves retain water. However, be aware of these plants’ major shortcoming: Their roots are relatively weak, making them best situated in pots with drainage holes.

Moisturizers are best able to seal in moisture on slightly damp skin, which is why experts typically recommend applying moisturizer after cleansing. However, this step depends on one’s specific skin type: People with oily skin would benefit more from lighter and gentler moisturizers because there is no need for extra oil and moisture.

Many moisturizers are loaded with vitamins to purportedly enhance skin health. While they are healthy ingredients, the vitamins in these solutions typically come in negligible amounts or degrade due to light and oxygen exposure, reducing their effectiveness. Thus, while these products can be helpful, they are not a necessity. In an article by Harvard Health Publishing, researchers recommended using humidifiers and drinking sufficient amounts of water rather than applying moisturizer to help with dryer skin.

The final—and perhaps most important—step in the ideal skin care routine is applying sunscreen. It is no secret that ultraviolet light is dangerous—according to the American Cancer Society, it is a major cause of skin cancer. On a less dire level, UV light can also lead to skin irritation and sunburns. Thus, applying sunscreen, which essentially prevents UV rays from penetrating the skin, is crucial. In a study published in the journal “Annals of Internal Medicine,” scientists followed more than 900 people over a fouryear period and concluded that people who use broad-spectrum sunscreen on a daily basis experienced 24% less skin aging than those using sunscreen only intermittently.

It is all too easy to ignore the effects of pollution in Palo Alto. With the city’s extensive greenery and high air quality, pollution often exists as a distant issue in people’s minds rather than an immediate cataclysm. In most urban cities, however, pollution is becoming an exigency: It increases respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer while rapidly changing urban landscapes.

Pollution predominantly takes the form of particulate matter, or small mixtures of chemicals that vary in size, composition, and shape and contain metallic compounds and elemental carbon. The most worrying forms of PM are PM10, matter with a diameter of 10 or fewer microns, and PM2.5, matter with a diameter of 2.5 or fewer microns. When breathed in, PM10 can deposit itself in the upper respiratory regions and large airways in the lungs, but will remain in the upper areas of the lungs. PM2.5, however, can lodge itself much further into the lungs. This blockage has been shown to lead to acute or chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, increased and more intensive asthma attacks, and premature mortality. All of these disproportionately impact children, the elderly, and those with preexisting respiratory conditions.

Particulate matter is mainly produced by cars, buses, and factory emissions. It differs from carbon dioxide, however, in that it can also come from construction sites, tilled fields, freshly unpaved roads, and even rock slides. Because of the greater concentration of transportation and factories in urban areas, cities have higher levels of PM buildup, resulting in a greater risk of respiratory issues in these areas. PM also creates visibility issues because it alters the way light is absorbed and scattered in the atmosphere—some particulate matter is large enough to be seen as soot or smoke in the air. Particulate matter also affects rural landscapes, especially agricultural areas. When deposited in the ground, PM can reduce soil’s ability to raise organic compounds, impacting not only farmland but also natural ecosystems: PM decreases the amount of nutrients for animals to consume, limiting the growth of the environment. Pollution greatly affects all aspects of our life and demands immediate attention, no matter how little individuals may think it affects them.

—Written by Aarushi Kumar, a STEM Editor.