Mumbai air pollution wreaking havoc on skin, vocal cords

What was once dismissed as a seasonal cough or temporary breathlessness and dryness of skin especially during the winter season is now emerging as a much deeper health crisis for Mumbai Medical experts warn that breathing difficulties are only the first visible symptom of a growing list of pollutioninduced health problems affecting residents across age groups With air quality frequently slipping into the lsquopoorrsquo and lsquovery poorrsquo categories doctors are witnessing a surge in patients suffering from ailments that go far beyond respiratory distressThe vocal fold cyst developed by a 14yearoldMedical experts say prolonged exposure to polluted air laden with fine particulate matter construction dust and vehicular emissions is triggering inflammation across multiple systems of the body Doctors have noticed a rise in cases related to the throat and skinVocal cord issuesEhtesham P the father of the 14yearold boy told midday ldquoAbout two months ago our son developed severe throat pain We first went to a local ENT who prescribed some medication However he did not feel any better Later we approached Dr Nupur Kapoor Nerurkar who asked us if our son had been shouting or consuming a lot of oily and spicy food But it wasnrsquot so We just told her that he has a habit of reading out loud when studying for the SSC exam But she said that this couldnrsquot be the sole reason Then she asked us if there was a lot of dust near our home or his school We then told her that a lot of construction activity was going on near our home and we were traversing stretches where Metro work is taking place when dropping him off at school That is when she said that elevated dust levels had resulted in cyst formationrdquoDr Sonali Kohli senior consultant dermatology Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital Dr Nupur Kapoor Nerurkar laryngologist and voice surgeon right Dr Shareefa Isa Chause MBBS DDVL who treated Ronak Shindersquos skin ailment PICSBY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTENTs have explained that persistent inhalation of polluted air causes the vocal cords to dry out and swell and saliva to thicken Dr Nupur laryngologist and voice surgeon at Bombay Hospital said pollution can cause changes in the body where secretions such as saliva and mucus become thicker leading to inflammation of tissues of the upper and lower airway ldquoWe are seeing more patients with vocal fold cyst development This means that due to inhaling a large amount of polluted air the glands that produce secretion get blocked and thus the cyst forms Similarly thickening of secretions in the throat due to inhaling highly polluted air and causing inflammation of the mucosa can cause the Eustachian tube which connects the back of the throat to the eardrums to also get inflamed resulting in problems in the ear and throatrdquoSkin canrsquot breatheCases of contact dermatitis eczema flares unexplained rashes and pigmentation issues have also risen significantly over the past few months Dr Sonali Kohli senior consultant dermatology Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital said ldquoOver the past month we have seen an increase in patients presenting with superficial skin infections and inflammatory flare Many of these patients have reported new or worsening symptoms In our clinic we have seen an approximate 25 per cent rise in such patients Pollution is a plausible contributing factor but rarely the sole causerdquoShe added ldquoParticulate matter and gaseous pollutants lead to oxidative stress on skin cells causing barrier disruption an increased susceptibility to irritants allergens and pathogens and inflammation resulting in exacerbation of eczemaatopic dermatitis and acnelike flaresrdquo Dr Kohli said other contributors such as seasonal humidity changes increased interpersonal contact changes in hygiene practices mask use sweatocclusion and behavioural factors often act together ldquoSo it is reasonable to say pollution may be an important driverrdquo she addedCase studyRonak Shinde who lives in Mankhurd and travels to the Mumbai airport daily by road said his skin had developed extreme dryness around three weeks ago ldquoDespite no change in my routine or food intake or travel habits I suddenly began experiencing extreme itching and developing rashes that bled if I scratched a bit After a few tests my dermatologist explained that the skinrsquos dryness has increased massively We soon realised that it had turned drier due to increased pollution levels She then prescribed some creams and medication and now the situation is a bit betterrdquo said ShindeHis doctor Dr Shareefa Isa Chause MBBS DDVL said ldquoWhen particulate matter comes in contact with the skin it creates oxidative stress which sparks an inflammatory response Skin has a transepidermal layer which helps balance hydration levels Particulate matter damages skin barriers the foundational protective layers of our skin This leads to infections and imbalancesrdquo