Not many people may realize this, but the location of residence is important for skin health. The growing pollution and continuous exposure to harmful UV rays can lead to skin conditions like premature wrinkles, sun damage, leathery skin, liver spots, and even skin cancer. We have a list of US cities that are worst for your skin health. Continue reading to find out if your city made it to the list.

1. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is home to the largest percentage of smokers in the country. The smoke of cigarettes is harmful to skin health as it disrupts the blood flow that supplies nutrients to the skin tissue. The Sin City is also situated at 2030 feet above sea level. This combined with the desert-type climate promotes wrinkles, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, rashes, itchy skin, and psoriasis.

2. Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix comes second on the list since it has very low dermatologists per capita. This place also suffers a high number of ozone days and an arid climate. This can aggravate conditions like wrinkles, fine lines, and even melanoma. It is advisable to wear adequate sunscreen, lotions, or creams packed with dimethicone, shea butter, or hyaluronic acid that keeps the skin hydrated.

3. Fresno, California
Fresno has a bad air quality along with 66.2 ozone days. The increasing pollution originating from the Bay Area gets trapped in the valley and, in turn, becomes harmful to skin health. Fresno has a low number of dermatologists too. Additionally, many people in this city use tanning beds which can cause dangerous effects on the skin if used for long periods.

4. Sacramento, California
Sacramento is one of the worst US cities for skin health because approximately one-third of adults suffer from sunburn annually. The residents in this area have an active lifestyle with lots of bicyclists, boaters, and runners who sometimes do not use sun protection. Sunscreen with both UVA and UVB coverage should be applied to protect the skin from permanent damage.

5. Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles has the highest number of ozone days in the country, with 92.3 days which is about 25 percent of the year. The range of mountains that surround the city trap pollutants that can cause skin problems. Skin-care specialists recommend checking the UV index in their area before they step out. It is a city where the sun shines the most, but fortunately, there are lesser melanoma and skin cancer death rates.

6. Charlotte, North Carolina
In 2010 the American Lung Association ranked Charlotte as the tenth worst city in terms of ozone pollution. Since this city is situated in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, the hot air is not felt. It ranks worse for skin health, too, because of its high population and pollution-generating coal-powered plants.