Skip to content

Office Air might be making you uglier at work, but there is a fix

Thankfully, there are some relatively easy fixes to the age-old issue of office air, which is known to wreak havoc on our skins general appearance.�

One of the undeniable benefits of working from home is being literally steps from whatever you might need. As remote workers keep their skin hydrated throughout their entire shift, the same could not be said for more traditional, in-office work.�

Presenting new skin products
Credit: M_a_y_a

The office is full of skin issues 

Luxury beauty expert Anubha Charan, who has written for the likes of Marie Claire, Vogue, and WebMD, detailed the many effects of office air in a fairly recent blog post

The first issue she described was the less-than-perfect temperature settings in an office. Some are boiling hot, while others are ridiculously cold. The result in either case is dry, flaky, and lackluster skin.�

To rectify this, she suggested using a hydrating mist to reinject that moisture back into your skin. 

The next issue arises due to dreaded overhead lighting which is known to wash you out and damage your skin. To combat this, simply wear an SPF every single day, which you should be doing already.�

Teenage girl texting messages on her phone while doing make-up
Credit: SrdjanPav

Another issue you might run into is the cross-contamination of germs, after all, its believed that 10 million bacteria are swimming on the average desk. Luckily, these can be avoided by a good old-fashioned disinfectant.�

The actual air is a problem too

Besides the germs, sugary drinks, and nasty overhead lightning, the air within your office also poses a risk. Because of the dry, recycled air, office workers often report dryness, flaking, irritation, itching, and more.

Though Anubha did suggest using a dehumidifier or air filter, which could be fairly costly, she also highlighted the importance of drinking lots of water. 

In the long-term, some air-purifying plants could also be a good shout. The latest research states they make a modest contribution to air purification.�