It is easy to believe that shedding psoriasis contributes to indoor pollution. You may be convinced each time you use a towel, hairbrush, or change your clothes. Fortunately, you would be mistaken.

This article reveals how psoriatic skin can help to reduce harmful ozone gases from indoor environments and therefore actually improve air quality. Yes indeed, we are extraordinary in so many ways.

Household dust contains squalene from skin flakes.  Households also contain varied amounts of ozone gas that is potentially harmful to our health. Skin flakes that contain squalene remove ozone from indoor air, and psoriatic skin contributes to this ozone removal twice as effectively as ordinary skin.

A 2011 study by a Swedish group of researchers painstakingly collected and analysed dust from 500 bedrooms and 151 day care centres of young children living in Odense, Denmark. Skin flakes that contain squalene have been detected in more than 97% of the dust samples collected.

The study team estimate that dust containing squalene at 60 parts per million would contribute about 4% to overall indoor ozone removal. Therefore, squalene in dust contributes to the scavenging of ozone in all settings occupied by humans (Charles J. Weschler, 2011).

About ozone

Ozone is a significant ingredient of smog. It is a highly reactive and unstable pollutant gas capable of damaging the linings of the human respiratory tract. Ozone forms in the atmosphere through complex reactions between chemicals directly emitted from vehicles, industrial plants, and many other sources. Key pollutants involved in ozone formation are hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide gases (CalAir, 2015).

Exposure to ozone at a level above ambient air quality standard can have a negative impact on human health such as lung inflammation and impaired lung functioning. Ozone exposure is also linked to coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and the worsening of asthma symptoms. Ozone is not only harmful to humans. Increase levels can also damage plants and materials such as rubber, fabrics and plastics (CalAir, 2015).

About our epidermis

Our epidermis is the outer layer of the cells that make up our skin. The thickness of the epidermis is usually only .05 mm thick on the eyelids and is 1.5 mm thick on the palms and the soles of the feet (NCI, 2018).

In the upper layers of the epidermis, a 2-fold increase in epidermal growth was observed in psoriatic skin as compared with normal thin or thick skin (Lillian B Nanney, 1986).

The epidermis layer is made up of five sub-layers:

Basal Cell Layer

The innermost layer of the epidermis containing little round basal cells. These basal cells constantly divide, with the newly created cells pushing older cells toward the surface of the skin, where they are shed. The basal cell layer also contains cells called melanocytes which produce melanin to protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays, which explains why tanning causes skin to darken. Patches of melanin in the skin are responsible for freckles, birthmarks and age spots.

Squamous Cell Layer

The squamous cell layer is located above the basal layer, and within this layer are the basal cells that have been pushed upward, however these maturing cells are now called squamous cells, or keratinocytes. Keratinocytes produce keratin, a tough, protective protein that makes up the majority of the structure of the skin, hair, and nails. Psoriasis is a condition where keratinocytes are excessively produced.

The squamous cell layer is the thickest layer of the epidermis and is involved in the transfer of certain substances in and out of the body. The squamous cell layer also contains cells called Langerhans cells. These cells attach themselves to antigens that invade damaged skin and alert the immune system to their presence (NCI, 2018).

Stratum Granulosum & the Stratum Lucidum

The keratinocytes from the squamous layer are then pushed up through two thin epidermal layers called the stratum granulosum and the stratum lucidum. As these cells move further towards the surface of the skin, they get bigger and flatter and adhere together, and then eventually become dehydrated and die. This process results in the cells fusing together into layers of tough, durable material, which continue to migrate up to the surface of the skin (NCI, 2018).

Stratum Corneum

The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis and is made up of 10 to 30 thin layers of continually shedding, dead keratinocytes.  As the outermost cells age and wear down, they are replaced by new layers of strong, long-wearing cells. The outer most cells of the stratum corneum are continually shed as new cells take their place, but this shedding process slows down with age. Complete cell turnover occurs every 28 to 30 days in young adults, while the same process takes 45 to 50 days in elderly adults, and faster again if you have psoriasis.

How does this make you feel?

People who live with a psoriatic are generally supportive and empathetic and I hope this is the situation you find yourself in. I cannot think of a better way to show your gratitude to this kindness, than by cleaning the air you share.

References

CalAir, C. A. R. B., 2015. Ozone and Ambient Air Quality Standards. [Online]
Available at: https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/aaqs/caaqs/ozone/ozone.htm
[Accessed January 2018].

Charles J. Weschler, S. L. A. F. G. B. J. T. a. G. C., 2011. Squalene and Cholesterol in Dust from Danish Homes and Daycare Centers. Environmental Science and Technology, p. 3872–3879.

Lillian B Nanney, C. M. S. M. M. L. E. K., 1986. Altered [125I] Epidermal Growth Factor Binding and Receptor Distribution in Psoriasis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 86(3), pp. 260-265.

NCI, N. C. I., 2018. SEER Training. [Online]
Available at: https://training.seer.cancer.gov/melanoma/anatomy/layers.html
[Accessed February 2018].