Location may be crucial – survey reveals the US cities promoting good skin
Data revealed by the ‘Daily Glow’ based on feedback from dermatologists such as Jessica Wu from the USC, indicates which cities in the US are most likely to have citizens with glowing complexions, dermatologists per capita, skin-cancer rates, climate statistics, and healthy-lifestyle indicators.
“While most of us wouldn't move to another state just for the sake of our skin, you can reduce your odds of skin cancer and premature aging by taking more precautions if you live in a high-risk area," Wu told the DG.
Top 5 cities that benefit the skin
Coming in at the no.1 spot was Portland, Oregon where the publication's experts attribute the combination of a pollution-free environment and the decline in the amount of people smoking for helping it to achieve the top position.
"Portlanders know exactly what to do in terms of health and skin. In general, they eat healthy, exercise, and they are savvy about protecting their skin from the sun.”
San Francisco came in at a close second place, which according to the researchers was down to the city having the lowest number of tanning beds per capita in the US and skin-cancer death rate, and the highest density of dermatologists per capita.
“The fog cleans out the city every day, people love the outdoors but realize that sunscreen is important,” Jennifer Linder, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco gives for example.
In at third place is Seattle which the dermatologists reveal is down to a high number of institutions that teach integrative medicine, good nutrition, and holistic health, meaning that their influence may make people more health-conscious.
However, the experts say there's an anomaly in that although the sun shines only 47 percent of the time, the sun is very intense when the skies are clear. “In the mornings it’s foggy and gray out then turns brilliant and bright, so there are higher rates of sunburn here.”
Chicago at fourth place has, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest number of skin-care specialists in the country, a number that helps the city’s standing as among the best places in the nation for your skin health.
"In addition to the skilled aestheticians and specialists who can help guide you in taking care of your skin, the city also has five great universities that train a lot of good dermatologists," Carolyn Jacob, director of Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology revealed to the DG.
Finally Baltimore came in at fifth place, which has one of the lowest incidences of melanoma in the country and also has access to nearby health-care resources, such as Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, which may attribute to the low skin-cancer death rate.
