Haze and Skin in Singapore: What the PSI Means for Your Skin
Medical Director Dr Sin Yong explains what haze does to skin, how to read PSI and PM2.5 for skin care, how to protect the barrier, and when lasers and peels are better postponed.
WhatsApp to Enquire →Key facts ↓Haze affects skin as well as lungs. Fine particles and the chemicals they carry cause oxidative stress, weaken the skin barrier and are linked with pigment spots and flares of eczema. During haze, cleanse gently, moisturise, keep using sunscreen and stay indoors when PM2.5 is high. Lasers and peels are usually postponed if your skin is irritated or you cannot avoid exposure while it heals.
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- PSI bands: Singapore’s PSI is reported as Good to Moderate up to 100, Unhealthy from 101 to 200, Very Unhealthy from 201 to 300, and Hazardous above 300 [1].
- Hourly PM2.5 bands: the 1-hour PM2.5 reading is banded Normal up to 55, Elevated from 56 to 150, High from 151 to 250 and Very High from 251 µg/m³, each with activity advice [1].
- The 2013 peak: during the June 2013 haze the PSI reached 401; at a volunteer haze clinic, 44 of 72 consultations were haze-associated, including three for skin [2].
- Pollution and pigment spots: in a study of 400 older women, higher exposure to soot and traffic particles was associated with about a fifth more pigment spots on the forehead and cheeks [5].
- How pollutants reach skin: a review describes skin as a main target of airborne pollutants, reached through the surface and through the body, with oxidative stress and inflammation as key effects [3].
What do PSI and PM2.5 readings mean for your skin?
The 24-hour PSI describes overall air quality; the 1-hour PM2.5 reading tells you about the next hour. For skin, the hourly figure is more useful for deciding when to be outdoors.
| Reading | Band | Official advice (summary) | What it usually means for skin care |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-hour PM2.5: 0–55 | Normal | Continue normal activities | Usual routine |
| 1-hour PM2.5: 56–150 | Elevated | Healthy people reduce strenuous outdoor activity for the next hour | Cleanse after time outdoors; keep moisturiser and sunscreen going |
| 1-hour PM2.5: 151–250 | High | Healthy people avoid strenuous outdoor activity; vulnerable people avoid outdoor activity | Pause strong actives if skin stings; postpone elective resurfacing if you must be outdoors while healing |
| 1-hour PM2.5: 251 and above | Very High | Minimise all outdoor activity; masks may be worn | Barrier care only; most elective laser and peel appointments are better moved |
| 24-hour PSI: 101–200 | Unhealthy | See the hourly PM2.5 advice | Watch for stinging, itch and dryness |
| 24-hour PSI: 201 and above | Very Unhealthy to Hazardous | See the hourly PM2.5 advice | As for High and Very High PM2.5 |
Haze in Singapore is most likely in the drier months of the southwest monsoon, roughly June to September, when smoke from regional fires drifts over. Readings change quickly with the wind, so checking the hourly figure before a long outdoor session is more useful than the morning PSI.
What does haze do to skin?
Haze particles and the chemicals on them generate oxidative stress and inflammation in the skin, and can weaken the barrier that keeps water in and irritants out.
Haze is a mixture: fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons carried on soot, ozone and gases. Reviews describe skin as one of the main targets, reached both through the surface and through the body after inhalation, with polyaromatic hydrocarbons and ground-level ozone the most studied [3,4]. The common pathway is oxidative stress: reactive molecules that use up the skin’s own antioxidants, trigger inflammation and disturb the lipids of the outer layer.
- Barrier strain. Skin can feel tight, dry or stinging, and products that are usually tolerated may suddenly burn.
- Inflammation. Redness and itch, particularly in people with eczema or sensitive skin.
- Congestion. Particles mixed with sweat and sebum on the surface, and more face-touching and mask friction, can aggravate breakouts.
- Pigment. Inflammation and oxidative stress both feed pigment production, which matters in skin that darkens readily.
Most of these effects are temporary and settle when the air clears, but they are relevant to how skin heals from a procedure done during haze.
Can haze cause pigmentation and skin ageing?
Long-term exposure to particle pollution is associated with more pigment spots and, less strongly, wrinkles. Short haze episodes are unlikely to cause lasting change on their own.
The clearest evidence is epidemiological. In 400 older women in Germany, higher exposure to soot and traffic-related particles at home was associated with about a fifth more pigment spots on the forehead and cheeks, and pollution correlated mainly with pigment spots and, less strongly, with wrinkles [5]. Associations of this kind do not prove that pollution caused the spots, and the study was in European women, but they fit with what is known about oxidative stress and pigment.
For Singapore skin the practical point is that haze adds to sunlight rather than replacing it. Hazy skies can feel dim, but UV still reaches the skin, so daily sunscreen remains important. Post-inflammatory pigmentation is more frequent and more severe in darker skin types [6], so anything that inflames the skin, including scratching irritated skin, can leave marks. The type of pigment you have, and what fits each type, is explained in pigmentation types in Asian skin.
Can haze make eczema, acne or sensitive skin worse?
Yes, in some people. Itch, dryness and eczema flares are the commonest skin complaints during haze, and congestion can worsen in acne-prone skin.
During the June 2013 haze, when the PSI reached a record 401, a volunteer haze clinic recorded 72 consultations in three weeks; 44 were haze-associated, mostly breathing and eye complaints, and three were skin problems, two of them flares of eczema [2]. Skin complaints are usually a minority of haze-related problems, but for people with eczema they can be the main one.
If you have eczema, keep using your usual emollient and any treatment prescribed for flares, and see your doctor if the rash spreads, weeps or disturbs sleep. If you have acne, cleanse after time outdoors and avoid heavier products; acne itself is managed as usual, and the plan is in acne treatment in Singapore.
How should you care for your skin during haze?
Keep the routine simple and barrier-friendly: gentle cleansing, a moisturiser, daily sunscreen, and fewer strong actives while skin feels irritated.
- Cleanse gently morning and evening, and after time outdoors, with a mild, non-foaming or low-foaming cleanser and lukewarm water. Avoid scrubs and brushes.
- Moisturise with a product containing barrier lipids such as ceramides, or humectants such as glycerin; apply on slightly damp skin.
- Use sunscreen every day. Haze is not reliable shade.
- Pause strong actives such as high-strength acids, retinoids and scrubs for a few days if skin stings, then reintroduce them one at a time.
- Consider an antioxidant serum, such as vitamin C or E, if you already tolerate one; the evidence for preventing haze effects specifically is limited.
- Reduce exposure indoors: close windows when readings are high, and use an air purifier in the bedroom if you have one.
- Mind friction: if you wear a mask outdoors, choose a well-fitting one and cleanse afterwards to reduce mask-related breakouts.
These steps overlap with year-round care in a humid climate, set out season by season in skin care for Singapore weather.
“Haze does not make a laser more dangerous by itself. Irritated skin does. The question on a hazy morning is not what the PSI is, but whether your skin is calm enough to heal well.”
Should you postpone lasers, peels or other treatments during haze?
Postpone elective resurfacing, strong peels and intensive laser if your skin is irritated or you cannot avoid outdoor exposure while it heals. Most other treatments can usually go ahead.
| Treatment | During haze, usually | Postpone if |
|---|---|---|
| Fractional CO2 laser, RF microneedling | Planned around a period you can stay mostly indoors while the surface heals | Skin is irritated or eczema is flaring; PM2.5 is High or above and you must be outdoors during healing |
| Medium-depth or strong chemical peels | Rescheduled when readings are high | The barrier is stinging or dry; you cannot avoid exposure for several days |
| Pico laser for spots, laser toning | Often fine if skin is calm | Skin is red, itchy or freshly irritated; a fresh tan |
| Superficial peels, Hydrafacial | Often fine if skin is calm | Stinging, dryness or an eczema flare on the face |
| Injectables (anti-wrinkle injections, fillers, skin boosters) | Usually unaffected by air quality | You have a respiratory infection, cold sore or skin infection at the site |
| Laser hair removal | Usually fine | Skin in the area is irritated or tanned |
The reason is healing rather than the treatment itself. A laser or peel creates a controlled injury; skin heals with less pigment risk when it is calm, protected and not exposed to extra irritants. In skin that tans readily, post-inflammatory pigmentation already varies with how intensively a laser is used [7], so adding an irritated barrier and outdoor exposure is avoidable risk. If an appointment falls during a severe haze, the clinic would rather move it than proceed on inflamed skin; aftercare for each treatment is in aftercare guides.
When should you see a doctor about skin during haze?
See a doctor if a rash is spreading, weeping or infected, if eczema is not controlled with your usual treatment, or if itch disturbs sleep.
- A rash that spreads, weeps, crusts or looks infected.
- Eczema that is not controlled by your usual emollient and prescribed treatment.
- Swelling of the eyelids or face, or hives.
- Eye pain, persistent redness or blurred vision, which need a doctor rather than skin care.
- Breathing difficulty, chest pain or wheeze that does not settle: seek medical care promptly, and call 995 in an emergency.
People with heart or lung conditions, and others at higher risk, should follow the official advice for vulnerable persons in each band [1].
What Dr Sin Yong looks for
- Whether the skin is calm on the day of a planned laser or peel, or red, dry and stinging.
- Eczema, sensitive skin or acne that has flared with the haze, which changes the timing.
- Your plans for the healing days: work outdoors, sport, travel or school runs.
- Your skin type and history of darkening after procedures.
- Current actives and whether any should be paused for a few days.
- Whether a gentler option, or simply waiting a week, would give a better result.
General clinical observations used at consultation; they describe what is checked, not any individual result.
Frequently asked questions
Does haze affect your skin?
It can. Haze particles and the chemicals on them cause oxidative stress and inflammation and can weaken the skin barrier, so skin may feel dry, tight, itchy or stinging, and eczema can flare. Most effects settle when the air clears. Gentle cleansing, a moisturiser and sunscreen cover most needs.
Should I wear sunscreen during the haze?
Yes. Haze can make the sky look dim, but it is not reliable protection from UV, and sunscreen also helps protect skin that is already inflamed from darkening. Keep using a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, reapplying if you are outdoors for long.
Can I still have laser treatment during the haze?
Often, yes, if your skin is calm and you can protect it while it heals. Gentle treatments such as laser toning are usually fine. Resurfacing such as fractional CO2 or strong peels are better postponed if your skin is irritated or you must be outdoors when PM2.5 is high. The decision is made on the day.
What PSI level is bad for skin?
There is no official skin threshold. As a practical guide, irritation is more likely when the 1-hour PM2.5 is High (151 and above) or the PSI is Unhealthy or worse, especially with long outdoor exposure. How your skin feels matters more than the number.
Does haze cause acne?
Haze does not cause acne by itself, but particles mixed with sweat and sebum, mask friction and more face-touching can aggravate breakouts in acne-prone skin. Cleanse after time outdoors, avoid heavy products and continue your usual acne treatment.
Is an antioxidant serum worth using during haze?
It may help, but the evidence for preventing haze effects specifically is limited. If you already tolerate a vitamin C or E serum, it is reasonable to continue it under sunscreen. If your skin is stinging, a plain moisturiser is the safer choice until it settles.
Should I stop retinoids or acids during the haze?
Only if your skin is stinging, red or peeling. Pause high-strength acids, retinoids and scrubs for a few days, keep cleansing gently and moisturising, then reintroduce one product at a time once the skin is comfortable again.
Does haze cause pigmentation?
Long-term particle pollution is associated with more pigment spots, and inflammation in darker skin can leave temporary marks. A short haze episode is unlikely to cause lasting pigmentation on its own, particularly with daily sunscreen and without scratching irritated skin.
Book an assessment
IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008. At IN Eternity Clinic a consultation fee applies, and it is waived if you go ahead with any medical treatment; the fee is S$120.
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References
- National Environment Agency, Singapore. Haze: PSI descriptors and 1-hour PM2.5 bands with activity advisories (haze.gov.sg). Read 27 October 2026. haze.gov.sg
- Yeo B, et al. Clinical experience and impact of a community-led volunteer atmospheric haze clinic in Singapore. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2014;45(6):1448-1453. SEAJTMPH 2014
- Araviiskaia E, et al. The impact of airborne pollution on skin. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019;33(8):1496-1505. doi:10.1111/jdv.15583
- Krutmann J, Liu W, Li L, et al. Pollution and skin: from epidemiological and mechanistic studies to clinical implications. J Dermatol Sci 2014;76(3):163-168. doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2014.08.008
- Vierkötter A, Schikowski T, Ranft U, et al. Airborne particle exposure and extrinsic skin aging. J Invest Dermatol 2010;130(12):2719-2726. doi:10.1038/jid.2010.204
- Davis EC, Callender VD. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: a review of the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment options in skin of color. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2010;3(7):20-31. PMID 20725554. PMID 20725554
- Chan HH, Manstein D, Yu CS, et al. The prevalence and risk factors of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after fractional resurfacing in Asians. Lasers Surg Med 2007;39(5):381-385. doi:10.1002/lsm.20512
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.