Why indoor air pollution may be worse than it is outdoors

Let's be honest: the air we breathe leaves a lot to be desired. There are harmful carbon dioxide emissions and toxic petrol fumes. And don't forget we are destroying the ozone layer on a daily basis.

It's enough to make you want to stay indoors, where you might think you're safe. But what you face indoors may be even more damaging.

Indoor air pollution, the degradation of indoor air quality by harmful chemicals and other materials, can be up to 10 times worse than outdoor air pollution. This is because contained areas enable potential pollutants to build up more than open spaces do.

Air pollution, be it the indoor variety or the more visible outdoor type, is bad for your health. The thing many people tend to overlook is that it can also make you look older.

There's no doubt that air pollution has a detrimental effect on the skin. It's been scientifically proven to be one of the main sources of skin damage; toxins in the air cause skin to age prematurely, especially on the face, neck and hands. It's important to recognise the problem, identify the danger signs and look at simple ways to either prevent, or at least minimise, damage.

Indoor pollutants in dust and air are often generated from sources such as environmental tobacco smoke, building materials, furniture, cleaning and hygiene products, air fresheners, computers, printers, cooking and other indoor activities, and from people themselves.