Still-life paintings known as vanitas, popular in the 17th century, served as reminders of the transient nature of everything on earth, doomed to wither and fade. It’s a lesson most of us get when we catch our reflection in the office mirror and are shocked to find our neatly groomed appearance has rapidly deteriorated somewhere between the commute and an 11am meeting.
Social media has recently questioned whether this phenomenon is really an inevitable consequence of nature, or if a more modern culprit is robbing hair and skin of beauty and vitality.
More than 80m posts on TikTok – such as this influencer – are demanding: “Can we talk about OFFICE AIR?! Why is it every time I work from the office I leave with greasy hair, dry skin and breakouts?”
What is ‘office air’, and are its effects real?
The air in an office can affect skin and hair due to a number of factors, says Dr Anneliese Willems, a GP with a special interest in skincare and a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne. Air conditioning and heating systems can lower the humidity levels in the air, which can lead to increased “transepidermal water loss”. “That’s where you’re losing moisture through your skin,” Willems says. “This can result in having drier, tighter or flakier skin, and this is particularly exacerbated in people who are prone to conditions such as eczema or have underlying sensitive skin.”
Dr Pooja Kadam, a dermatologist at The Skin Hospital in Sydney, agrees office air may reduce humidity and cause dry skin, which may then trigger inflammatory skin conditions such as acne or dermatitis. And when it comes to hair, “when the scalp is dry your body may produce extra sebum [oil] to compensate, leading to a greasy look”.
What other factors are at play?
Office environments might also have poor ventilation, Willems says. This can lead to increased concentration of indoor air pollutants that can irritate the skin, such as dust or what are known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which can come from newly manufactured objects such as carpets, curtains and furniture, as well as certain cleaning products.
Dr Libby Sander, an associate professor of organisational behaviour at Bond University, says other symptoms of poor indoor air quality may not be visible, with studies showing it may also affect cognition, performance as well as cause respiratory issues, headaches and sleep.
Factors independent of the physical office environment could also be at play, Willems says. For example, people might sweat more when they’re outside their home environment, which might make their hair look limp. Also, the stages of a commute into work – walking to a station, being on a train, then walking to the office – can expose the skin to possible triggers for irritation, and the movement back and forth between hot and cold environments can itself be a source of irritation.
Should offices be better designed?
Not everyone’s hair and skin will be affected by office air, and concerns will be more likely in susceptible individuals such as those with sensitive skin. Willems says things like humidifiers are not always effective and can instead be vectors for infection. However, she encourages people to have a discussion with their employer about what a healthy work environment looks like.
“We often talk about the skin being a mirror to health within the body, and so we want to be creating a work environment that not just looks after skin health, but also looks after whole body wellbeing.”
What can you do if you’re worried?
Sander says office indoor air quality is unfortunately not something that an employee is always able to control. However, they can ask facilities and human resources managers questions such as “What is the rating of our building? Is it a Leed certified building? Is it a Well certified building? Because we know that there is significant research linking that to a range of physical and cognitive outcomes.”
When it comes to the potential impact on people’s appearance, Willems says people should focus on good skincare and trying to avoid irritants. A good-quality moisturiser is a great place to start, especially one that contains ingredients such as ceramides, which are naturally occurring fats found in the skin. These help seal in moisture and restore the skin barrier to keep irritants out.
To boost hydration further, humectants such as hyaluronic acid can be helpful. These “essentially draw water into the skin, making it act like a sponge to plump the skin and boost hydration,” Willems says. Products that support skin repair, such as those containing niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) can also soothe and strengthen the skin over time. Sunscreen is important too, as UV exposure can trigger irritation. Willems adds that using a gentle cleanser is key, because harsh exfoliants on already irritated skin will only make things worse.