The industrial development of cities in many countries entails both pleasant and dire consequences. One of the latter is air pollution. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, in 2014, 92% of the world's population lived in regions with increased level pollution. In addition, car exhaust also contributes to the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system, respiratory tract and cancer. How to make the air we breathe cleaner, what methods of protection against dust and dirt exist today and what a nasal filter is - we’ll talk in this article.

There are several types of nasal filter, different manufacturers, its subtleties of use, pros and cons. Let's look at everything in more detail.

Nasal filters

Nasal filters, or invisible respirators as they are also called, are compact designs that are placed in the nasal passages to purify the inhaled air. It goes in and out easily. The protection is not visible to prying eyes, and after a short period of time you yourself will stop feeling it - you just need to get used to the new sensations a little.

What does a nasal filter do? Thanks to it, the air is purified from the most harmful harmful particles that we could breathe. Namely:

• from substances contained in industrial and household dust;
• from substances that are formed from;
• from allergens: pollen, mold and mildew, animal saliva, etc.;
• from pathogenic microorganisms that develop diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract.

The main manufacturers of invisible respirators are Japan and England.

A distinctive feature of English filters is the ability to replace the filter material.

There are also Italian brands. Their models are available in sizes “S”, “L”, “M”. A special feature of these filters is the presence of a special biogel for better use.

Now let's look at the design of the nose protection. It consists of a housing or external retainer in the form of soft rubber, an internal dome-shaped retainer in the form of the same soft rubber, the filter itself - spunbond non-woven material (retains microparticles less than 10 micrometers) or cellulose microsponge - and a polypropylene jumper for comfortable grip.

Application

How do you know if you need protection? The use of invisible respirators is widespread during periods of:

• , including for preventive purposes;
• travel and changes in climatic conditions;
• allergies to dust, dirt, pollen and other irritants.

Therefore, if you live in a city with high levels of air pollution, if you medical worker(as a replacement for gauze masks), if you work in a factory: in a workshop or in a dusty area, or often suffer from respiratory diseases, a nasal filter will become your invaluable assistant.

Their wide range and variety will allow you to choose a model for any age: from children 4-5 years old to the elderly. And this issue should be approached carefully, since a mistake with the choice can be costly:

• nosebleeds may occur;
• the nasal septum may become bent;
• Nasal polyps or may occur.
• To avoid these problems, you should choose your size accurately.

It must be remembered that structures with “wet” use will grow by about a millimeter.

Each package contains three filters. On average, one such protection lasts for 7-10 days. This means that the package will last a little less than a month, although if you use the filters periodically and not constantly, you can increase their service life.

Start with what is rarely done first - read the instructions. All the most important things are stated in it. If you have not purchased filters yet and are still in doubt, we will tell you how to use an invisible respirator.

First, carefully remove one pair from the package. If this is a design for use during a runny nose, you should moisten it a little in water and only then install it in the nasal passages.

The filter must be inserted so that the bridge touches the bottom of the nose and does not dangle or move from side to side.
Then inhale several times to ensure reliable contact of the inner wall of the filter with the nasal cavity. Respirators for use without a runny nose are worn for up to 12 hours without taking them off. To use for a runny nose, rinsing is required; you can do this once an hour.
After the period of use has expired, the filters are removed, washed well, and dried at normal temperature in a room away from radiators and sources of increased heat. Average drying time is 4-6 hours.

Features of application

Burning, stinging or an unpleasant feeling associated with the introduction of a foreign body into the nose are common symptoms when first used. The average adaptation time is from half an hour to three hours. As a rule, then a person simply forgets about filters.

Adults must ensure the installation of the structure for children under 12 years of age.

It is not necessary to use invisible respirators all the time - it is possible to use them immediately before contact with an allergen: before traveling, cycling or just walking, interacting with animals and in other cases.

Now let's talk about the pros and cons that many of us consider before purchasing nasal filters.

The advantages include the following indicators:

• actually, cleaning the inhaled air;
• its complete penetration into the lungs, absence of cough;
• anatomically correct shape and comfortable design;
• does not affect appearance, expression of emotions and food intake;
• consists of hypoallergenic and high-quality materials;
• a wide range of;
• use by children over 4 years of age and pregnant women;
• the need to use medications for allergies is reduced.

And now the disadvantages:

• possible burning or soreness in the nose;
• nosebleeds due to incorrect filter selection or incorrect installation;
• deviated septum.

To completely protect yourself from such symptoms of incorrect use, consult an otolaryngologist before purchasing.

Good news for those who bought filters but have not yet been able to use them: when closed, unpacked, the filters do not lose their properties for a very long time.

Unfortunately, as reviews from Russian consumers show, nasal filters are not suitable for everyone. Thus, many people experienced irritation of the mucous membrane when using protection for a dry nose. Sometimes even the largest invisible respirators did not completely close the nasal passages, and allergens entered through the gaps. Thus, as users write, “nasal filters are not a panacea for allergies” and suggest using protection only in conjunction with medications.

From an aesthetic point of view, not everything is so rosy either. The septum itself is quite thick, and even a small section of it under the nose is noticeable. In addition, when protection is installed in the nasal passages, the upper part of the nose becomes larger due to the expansion of these same passages. Many women are repulsed by this fact.

And, perhaps, the most important drawback of the filters was difficulty breathing. It became harder for people to breathe, yawning began to appear much more often, their heads ached and they wanted to sleep. All this while using dry nose filters.

In addition to carefully choosing your size and type of invisible respirators, you need to understand that the first purchase is just a test of them as possible protection against allergies and harmful substances in the air. But it is not at all necessary that you will get rid of problems with dirty air once and for all. There are other solutions.

You don't need to look at statistics to understand that we spend most of our lives at home. If you live in an area with bad air, you can protect yourself with nasal filters. But, unfortunately, you will not have the opportunity to wear them all the time: for example, while sleeping. In addition, they may not be suitable for you as a solution. This means that the protection of your respiratory tract will not be constant.

Therefore, if you cannot influence the air outside your window in any way, then you can definitely influence the air in your home. A breather will help you quickly and reliably get rid of dust and allergens.

The breather is a compact device that provides heating and air purification. It can be easily controlled from a smartphone. You will not hear a single noise, the rooms will be fresh, there will be no unpleasant odors, and your lungs will be clean.

Thus, the optimal solution to the issue of dirty air would be to use a breather at home, and on the street - nasal filters or other protection. This way you will save money and maintain your health at the proper level, you will be able to be in nature more often, you will forget about allergies, and you will increase the service life of invisible respirators by using them only in outdoor conditions.

Respirators for breathing protection

Another type of protection against polluted air is respirators. First created in the 16th century in the form of fabric moistened with water and rolled into several layers, respirators have gone through a long path of modifications and now represent a reliable means of protection against dust, dirt, toxic aerosols, smoke and gases.

Basic operating principle

The essence of a respirator is to isolate the respiratory tract from contact with a contaminated environment. The device supplies either clean or purified air to the lungs. And the air that we exhale is either released into the atmosphere by the respirator or taken away for further processing.

According to the classification, respirators are divided into household, medical and industrial. There are also insulating and filtering ones. We are interested in household ones.

The design of the respirator is quite simple:

• the front part in the form of the mask itself or a half mask (outer part);
• filter element, usually a carbon filter (internal part);
• exhalation (if any) and inhalation valves;
• ribbons for fastening.

A half mask and a mask differ in that the first one covers only bottom part face, the second covers the entire face.

A carbon filter provides a greater degree of protection, since carbon is an excellent purifier and removes up to 95% of all air pollutants. An exhalation valve is used when a person has difficulty breathing while wearing a respirator. It makes breathing easier, but reduces protection due to the possible penetration of contaminated air inside if the valve itself is faulty or of poor quality.

The disadvantages include a weak degree of protection in heavily polluted air. However, even in many industries they use them, and not gas masks, for example.

The face for most women is perhaps the most important part of the body. It receives maximum attention and must always look impeccable. At the same time, the face is open at any time and in any weather, which means that it is the skin of the face that is most susceptible to the adverse effects of external factors.

Protection for facial skin is an indispensable condition for its beauty and youth. Various skin protection products are aimed precisely at preventing overdrying and maintaining its elasticity for as long as possible.

How to protect?

• Day creams

The simplest and most common such remedy is day creams. As a rule, they have a lighter structure than fatty nourishing night products, and they do not penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, but act mainly in its superficial part - soften, moisturize and prevent drying, protect from dust and dirt. In addition, they often serve as a base for makeup. Day creams designed for oily skin have a mattifying effect, eliminating oily shine.

Apply day creams in the morning, about half an hour before going outside. Their use is especially important in hot and windy weather and certainly in cold, frosty weather.

Everyone is sensitive to frost. In winter it is recommended to use for dry and normal skin fatty day creams, and for combination and oily – semi-oily. During this period, in no case should you neglect regular nourishing masks(at least once every 10 days).

Those with dry and normal skin can try from vegetable oil( , corn, ). For this purpose not a large number of The oil is heated in a water bath and applied to the face using a cotton pad or swab. After 15 minutes, wash off the oil and wash with herbal decoction.

• Powder

A layer of powder applied on top of the day cream forms with it a kind of protective film for the skin. It is worth considering that in winter time It is not recommended to use creams containing large amounts of water under powder. Before applying powder, excess cream must be carefully removed with a napkin.

Even ordinary transparent powder can capture the sun's rays and prevent them from reaching the skin. Colored powder has more pigment, so it has a higher UV protection factor. But it is best to use special modern powders with a high SPF factor. They contain filters that prevent free radical damage to the skin. Such powders are very convenient in hot summer weather, when using thick creams is not very pleasant.

But even with powders, you need to remember the basic rule - they need to be constantly updated, since the layer of product is absorbed and removed from the skin along with sweat, leaving it defenseless under the ruthless rays of the sun.

• Concealer

Modern tonal products are radically different from those products that went on sale quite recently. They have many beneficial properties, such as fixation on the skin after application and the ability to adapt to skin tone. But the most important thing is the presence of an integrated Foundation SPF This product solves several issues at once in addition to giving the skin beauty and a fresh look.

Foundation with a protection factor forms a film on the face that protects it from drying out, chapping, the harmful effects of temperature and sunlight, as well as from various contaminants.

Modern foundation has numerous beneficial properties. It not only tones the skin, but also nourishes and moisturizes it. Designed for aging skin, this cream tightens it and smoothes out wrinkles. The presence of sun protection in it not only helps protect the skin, but also frees you from the need to apply several layers of products to your face: day cream + sunscreen + foundation. As a result, your makeup looks better and your skin is perfectly protected.

• Skin hydration

If you constantly work at a computer, facial skin protection is even more necessary, since in such conditions the risk of premature aging increases.

In addition to the use of protective day creams and moisturizing night creams, regular (about once every 2 hours) irrigation of the facial skin is recommended. For this purpose, special sprays with thermal water are used. They perfectly moisturize the skin without damaging makeup, and sometimes they can even “fix” it. If your face is not wearing makeup, you can irrigate your skin with ordinary mineral water or wipe it with a napkin soaked in it.

Skin protection products can be not only external. Eating tomatoes and cabbage will also help protect your face from harmful computer radiation. Has a similar effect green tea(you need to drink at least 2 cups a day). In addition, make sure that the air in the work areas is not dry and stagnant. Regular ventilation is necessary; If possible, you should use special air humidifiers.

In addition to refreshing the skin with tonics and sprays, it is recommended to use preparations with hyaluronic acid. Now they are in any cosmetic lines, but Asian skin care cosmetics are especially famous for them. You can use toners with hyaluronic acid, serums or creams. All of them perfectly moisturize the skin and protect it from drying out and aging.

• Sunscreens

Protection for facial skin under the hot sun is critically needed. A suitable skin protection product is selected based on individual characteristics (the lighter the skin by nature, the greater the SPF protective factor should be). Cream, oil or spray is applied to the entire face (but not close to the eyes) in sufficient quantity. Application must be repeated every 2 hours. And, of course, always relevant Golden Rule– avoid exposure to the sun during the period of its maximum activity – from 12-00 to 16-00.

By the way, sunscreen for facial skin sometimes needs to be used in winter - for example, at ski resorts.

Used sunscreen not just when visiting the beach. In summer, radiation on city streets is no less dangerous than on the seashore. It is especially important to apply sunscreen when using peelings and acidic products - they will protect against formation on the skin, which will then be extremely difficult to remove.

Summer is coming - a wonderful time of year, the weather is warm and sunny outside. I want to soak up the sun's rays and take a break from makeup; I have no desire to apply creams and lotions to my face. But still, one should not naively think that the sun’s rays have their negative impact only in nature and on the seashore.

Within the city, the sun and dust have the same detrimental effect on exposed areas of the body and face. Therefore, you should think about how to protect your skin from the sun and dust.

Solar radiation

To protect against it, special day creams are used that contain components that help protect the skin from the sun even when exposed to direct rays. You should avoid using creams containing fruit acids, they can cause increased sensitivity to solar radiation.

Can be used to protect eyes and the skin around them. Sunglasses, they will also save you from the appearance of facial wrinkles in the future, not to mention the fact that glasses can be stylish and fashion accessory to complement your wardrobe.

Dust and dirt

To protect the skin from dust, it is recommended to periodically use, for example, homemade or.

While relaxing in the clean air, somewhere in nature, you can relax and not worry about how to protect your facial skin from dust, taking a break from everyday life. cosmetic procedures, but in the city it is necessary to constantly take care of such protection. For these purposes, a cream can also be useful, or you can use it, which will save the pores from dust; for this it should be crumbly and light; mineral powder is best suited for these purposes.

Skin care in summer is completely different from skin care in winter. In the summer we are faced with many factors that do not have the best effect on the epidermis; it loses moisture, dries out, sweats, and easily absorbs dirt. The skin has to endure enormous stress, which makes it lifeless and weakened. This includes ultraviolet radiation, wind, heat, sea ​​salt, indoor air conditioners and much more.

Summer problems

Due to the sun's rays, skin cells age faster, wrinkles appear, especially in the corners of the eyes (from the fact that we constantly frown in the sun). In summer, the skin often becomes damp, but such “hydration”, alas, is just a deception. The function of the sebaceous glands in the epidermis is activated, due to which the skin becomes rougher and thickens, thus protecting itself from the sun. If you start fighting this fat, you can get dehydrated.

So, the three components our skin needs in summer are cleansing, protection and, of course, care.

Cleansing

In summer, the air is not only humid and warm, but also very dusty, so bacteria multiply at lightning speed, the sebaceous glands function in an enhanced mode, and the pores become clogged. In general, this is an ideal habitat for various types of inflammation, pimples and acne. Therefore, thorough cleansing is necessary not only before going to bed in the evening, but also after coming from the street. The main thing is that it should not be too hard, because the skin is already subjected to excessive stress.

How to wash your skin?

It is best to use products that do not contain lye or soap. Various mousses, foams, and cosmetic milks perfectly remove dirt, but at the same time are gentle.

In no case is it recommended to wash your face with cold running water and soap; this further dehydrates the epidermal cells. But it is not forbidden to use a scrub for peeling; on the contrary, it is even useful, but, remember, everything should be in moderation.

Night cream should also be nourishing. An excellent option is a product with vitamins C and E, antioxidants and active moisturizers. Cosmetologists do not recommend using “winter” creams in the summer, as they are greasy and will clog the pores, resulting in excessive sweating of the face.

A real salvation are moisturizing masks, which are best used twice a week. The choice of masks in the summer is huge - both store-bought and homemade from fruits and vegetables.

In the morning, it is useful to carry out a toning procedure - rubbing with ice (you can freeze herbal decoctions), which smoothes out fine wrinkles and gives the face a fresh, healthy look.

How to protect your face from the sun and summer dust?

There is such a term as photoaging. In the summer, this enemy is especially dangerous, as it lies in wait for us not only on the beach, but also just on the street. How to deal with this enemy?

First of all, you should not neglect special creams that protect the skin from ultraviolet rays. Secondly, regular sunglasses will come to the rescue and save your eyes from wrinkles and crow’s feet. But about creams with fruit acids It’s better to forget, as they increase the sensitivity of the epidermis to the sun.

Dust and dirt are constant companions of city life. To protect your skin from various types of pollution, it is recommended to use day cream and powder, which will fill the pores and prevent dust from getting in there. In summer, it is better to use loose powder or mineral powder, which does not weigh down makeup and is also easier to apply.

The specific nature of work in industry requires workers to constantly take care of their skin, taking into account the specifics of the profession. If you do not do this regularly, your skin condition may worsen.

If skin care is insufficient, exposure to high and low temperatures, many chemicals, industrial waste, toxic dust of lead, manganese, arsenic can lead to dry skin and premature aging.

Substances such as petroleum and its distillation products (kerosene, tar), petroleum lubricating oils, cooled emulsions can cause the appearance of so-called oil acne on the skin of the face, hands and feet. Initially, many black dots appear, blocking the outlet openings of the follicle and creating a grater sensation if you run your hand over the affected skin. In the future, a pustular rash may develop from them.

Various chemicals that workers in the chemical industry come into contact with - lead, arsenic, phosphorus, glue, paints, varnishes, synthetic resins - have a harmful effect on the skin if it is insufficiently protected and not taken care of.

If handled carelessly, cauterizing substances such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric, acetic and other acids, sodium and potassium alkalis, chromium compounds, and lime can cause great harm to the skin. Coal dust, when affecting the skin, can cause inflammation - dermatitis. Contamination of the skin with coal dust and injury to it by small sharp pieces of coal in coal industry workers increases the risk of pustular skin diseases. The appearance of hydroadenitis, boils, and carbuncles is facilitated by increased air humidity, cooling of the body, especially in autumn and winter, and insufficient solar radiation.

To prevent occupational diseases, special skin care is required for those parts of the body where it is not covered by clothing. Elastic, clean, constantly softened, and therefore less fragile skin is not so susceptible to the action of various harmful agents (chemical, thermal) and the penetration of pyogenic infections. Before work, the skin should be washed well, fingernails should be cut short, minor abrasions and cuts should be treated with iodine or brilliant green, and during work they should be sealed with an adhesive plaster or lubricated with Novikov or Chernyak liquid. It is useful to use special protective creams, ointments and powders for the face and hands. KHIOT-6 paste, Selissky ointment and other products protect the skin from the effects of oils, petroleum and its derivatives.

For those who work in hot shops, the use of oily face creams due to increased sweating of the skin is not recommended, and even with dry skin, they should use creams recommended for oily skin - “Magic”, “Ideal”, “Lemon”, “Lel”, “ Strawberry", "Nevsky", "Leningradsky".

At the end of work, your face and hands should be thoroughly washed with soap. To cleanse the face, lotions “Bio-4”, “Arctic”, “Start”, “Flora”, “Chamomile”, “Freshness”, “Cucumber” are used, which remove excess sebum and sweat from the skin.

If it is known in advance that after work you will not be able to use hot water and soap, you can prepare Rakhmanov paste and cleanse your skin with it. Its composition: 1 liter of liquid clay, 0.25 liters of kerosene, 0.25 liters of river sand, 75 g of technical sulfuric acid, 1.5 liters of water. Water acidified with sulfuric acid is added to the first three components. For minor skin damage, the sulfuric acid contained in this paste forms a protective film when interacting with the tissues of the damaged areas.

A number of industries use sawdust to cleanse the skin before washing. Substances such as turpentine, kerosene, acetone, and gasoline are also used for this purpose. Having good cleansing properties, these chemical solvents, however, can, when used systematically, cause damage to the integrity of the skin, drying out, inflammation, and cracks.

Protective cleaning paste or 70° alcohol are somewhat less harmful.

Great harm is caused to the skin by cleansing it with wash water drained after processing production parts, especially after chrome plating, nickel plating and other similar operations. You should not use mine water either - it contains hydrogen sulfide and sulfuric anhydride, which contribute to the formation of a pustular rash.

After the work is completed and removed work clothes and linen, it’s good to take a hot soap and soda bath (1 tablespoon per 1-2 liters of water). To soften and restore normal skin functions, it is recommended to use hand cream, boric or fortified petroleum jelly, Unna cream, TsKVI fattening ointments No. 1 and 2, “Satin” or “Lux” cream. For this purpose, you can use a liquid mixture of glycerin, water, alcohol or cologne and ammonia, taken in equal parts; The mixture should be rubbed into damp skin of your hands.