Judd Matsunaga
A lifetime ago, in the 1960s, my family would visit relatives on a regular basis. I can still remember on one visit, my 4-year-old younger brother (now a respected doctor), called Uncle Tom “Grandpa.” Uncle Tom, a Nisei and World War II veteran, clearly insulted and upset with the remark, answered back, “I’m not your grandpa.”
Sixty-plus years later, I’m starting to understand why my uncle responded so gruffly to a little kid. He didn’t want to grow old or look old before his time. Now, some people are comfortable enough to celebrate their age. They don’t mind the age-related changes in their facial appearance, i.e., it reflects the joys and challenges in life. But not for Uncle Tom and not for many Pacific Citizen readers and not for me.
If you want to look as young as possible for as long as possible, read on. This information comes from a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School, Skin Care and Repair. According to the article, as we age and the years add up, dozens of physical changes to our face take place. At 68 years of age, still refusing to look old before my time, I have conducted research on what the experts say to help you (and me) understand the science behind skin health.
While a gracefully aging face is a beautiful thing, there are changes that occur with age that we might like to slow down. With age, fat loses volume, clumps up and shifts downward, so features that were formerly round may sink, and skin that was smooth and tight gets loose and sags. Meanwhile, other parts of the face gain fat, particularly the lower half, so we tend to get baggy around the chin and jowly in the neck.
And, of course, there are the wrinkles. Those deep ones in the forehead and between the eyebrows are called expression, or animation, lines. They’re the result of facial muscles continually tugging on, and eventually creasing, the skin. Finer wrinkles are due to sun damage, smoking and natural degeneration of elements of the skin that keep it thick and supple.
Do you know that pollution affects your skin? Those centenarians you see in photos that look like they’re still in their 70s or 80s most likely don’t live in a big city with smog and traffic. Your skin is an important line of defense against pollutants, including those that we can’t see or smell. Exposure to pollution is linked to free radicals and oxidative stress: Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage your body’s cells and DNA. Pollution is full of these molecules, which lead to a process called oxidative stress (i.e., aging).
Your skin barrier is the outer layer of your skin, and it plays a crucial role in your health. This layer keeps water and nutrients in and toxins out. Exposure to pollution can weaken and damage your skin barrier. Then, pollutants enter your skin’s deeper layers and create issues such as dryness, irritation, redness and sensitivity. Research shows that oxidative stress can lead to multiple skin issues, including discoloration, redness, roughness, wrinkles and skin cancer.
You might say, “Pollution is everywhere, there’s no way to completely avoid it.” True. The good news is that you can defend your skin from pollution. The following are six simple steps to protect your skin from everyday pollution that I found on www.uclahealth.org titled, “Simple Steps to Protect Your Skin From Everyday Pollution,” dated April 2, 2025.
- Cleanse your skin every night. A cleanser washes pollutants off your skin, so it’s essential. Nighttime is your skin’s prime time to repair itself, so always cleanse your face before hitting the pillow. If your skin is oily, you can also wash again in the morning, but not everyone needs to wash twice a day. Look for a gentle, nonabrasive and alcohol-free face wash formula. If you have sensitive skin, steer clear of cleansers with fragrances or dyes, which can be irritating.
- Use a leave-on product with antioxidants. Antioxidants fight the oxidative stress that pollution causes, and you can find them in a variety of lotions, creams and serums. After cleaning, apply a skincare product that contains one or more antioxidants, such as:
- Green tea extract
- Niacinamide (vitamin B-3)
- Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes
- Vitamin A, which may be listed as retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinoic acid or retinaldehyde
- Vitamin C, which may be listed as ascorbyl palmitate, L-ascorbic acid or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate
- Vitamin E, which may be listed as d-alpha-tocopherol, d-alpha-tocopherol acetate, dl-alpha-tocopherol and dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate
- Strengthen your skin barrier. If your skin is dry, flaky, red or sensitive, you likely have a damaged skin barrier — and you’re more susceptible to pollution’s effects. You can help repair your skin barrier with a moisturizer. Apply a fragrance-free, dye-free lotion or cream after bathing, when skin is still damp. Consider using a product with ceramides; they help boost skin barrier function.
- Use sunscreen daily. You may already know that sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, premature skin aging and skin cancer. It combats the effects of pollution, too. Research shows that the sun’s UV rays magnify oxidative stress, so sunscreen can help prevent some of this damage. Not a regular sunscreen user? It’s never too late to start. Look for a product labeled “broad spectrum” with SPF 30 or higher. Reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
- Eat a skin-protective diet. Antioxidants are helpful as skincare products, but defending your skin from within is also important. Eat plenty of antioxidant-rich foods each day, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains. Studies show that following a plant-based, antioxidant-rich diet lowers oxidative stress in your body. Consider increasing your intake of omega-3 fats as well. Consuming these healthy fats can help repair your skin barrier. You can find omega-3s in: nuts and seeds, especially ground flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts, salmon and sardines.
- Lower your exposure to pollution. It’s not always possible to avoid pollution, but you can minimize your exposure if you:
- Avoid indoor pollutants: Air fresheners and harsh cleaning chemicals can pollute indoor air.
- When possible, use plain water, vinegar and baking soda for cleaning.
- Clean your air at home.
In conclusion, the American Lung Assn. says that indoor air can be more polluted than outside. Change furnace filters regularly and consider using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier to capture microscopic pollution particles.
Finally, know your local pollution levels: Check the air pollution forecasts in your area every day. If levels are elevated, avoid extended time outdoors from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Don’t exercise outdoors during peak traffic times, when vehicle emissions are highest.
Judd Matsunaga is the founding attorney of Elder Law Services of California, a law firm that specializes in Medi-Cal Planning, Estate Planning and Probate. He can be contacted at (310) 348-2995 or. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Pacific Citizen or constitute legal or tax advice and should not be treated as such.
Past “Legal-Ease” columns may be viewed here.