News Chemistry

Lotions and perfumes affect the air near our skin

The personal care products suppress chemical reactions between skin oils and ozone

A man sitting in a chair with his pants legs rolled up to his knees squeezes lotion onto his hand, as if preparing to moisturize his skin.

In an experiment (not shown), four men applied lotion or fragrance to see how these products affect the “human oxidation field,” a cloud of chemicals that form from reactions between ozone and skin oils. Both products suppressed the field, researchers found.

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By Skyler Ware

Personal care products influence the chemistry of the air swirling around us.