Bench approaches to study the detrimental cutaneous impact of tropospheric ozone

Being exposed to ground-level ozone (O₃), as it is often the case in polluted cities, is known to have a detrimental impact on skin. O₃ induces antioxidant depletion and lipid peroxidation in the upper skin layers and this effect has repercussions on deeper cellular layers, triggering a cascade of cellular stress and inflammatory responses. Repetitive exposure to high levels of O₃ may lead to chronic damages of the cutaneous tissue, cause premature skin aging and aggravate skin diseases such as contact dermatitis and urticaria. This review paper debates about the most relevant experimental approaches that must be considered to gather deeper insights about the complex biological processes that are activated when the skin is exposed to O₃. Having a better understanding of O₃ effects on skin barrier properties and stress responses could help the whole dermato-cosmetic industry to design innovative protective solutions and develop specific cosmetic regime to protect the skin of every citizen, especially those living in areas where exposure to high levels of O₃ is of concern to human health.