What are the effects of silica on the skin?

Many skin care products contain silica, which is familiar to everyone. The most obvious effect of silica on the skin is lubrication. The right amount of silica in cosmetics also has a certain effect on the skin. However, it is inevitable that silica is a substance that cannot be exposed to for a long time. Many people develop occupational diseases due to engaging in work related to silica, such as pneumoconiosis, which is a preventable but incurable disease.

Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is a hard, insoluble solid. It often appears in three variants: quartz, tridymite, and cristobalite. Silica has important uses in daily life, production, and scientific research, but it can sometimes cause harm to the human body. Although silica is non-toxic, it does not mean it is absolutely harmless.

Inhalation of silica dust can cause silicosis because it cannot be absorbed by the lungs and can only be deposited, eventually leading to lung fibrosis, inability to absorb oxygen, and ultimately suffocation. This is a very serious occupational disease that is prevalent in mines, quarries, cement industries, etc. where there is a lack of necessary protection. There is currently no very effective treatment for this disease, and it can only be controlled.

Silica made into filaments (i.e. things like glass fiber and asbestos) can easily pierce the skin when it comes in contact with the human body and remain inside the body, causing unrelieved stinging and itching. Although most of these conditions will resolve naturally, long-term exposure to such substances may lead to serious consequences such as blood vessel blockage and joint damage. For detailed information, it is recommended that you consult the doctors at Wuhan Modern Obstetrics and Gynecology in Qiaokou.