If you feel like all you’ve been seeing online recently are articles and posts about inflammation, you’re not alone. Inflammation is most definitely having a moment, but the skincare industry has been well aware of inflammation and its effect on the skin since – forever.
A complex biological response that can have a profound impact on your skin's health and appearance, inflammation is a topic that you need to know about if you want to achieve a healthy complexion.
In this blog post, we delve into what inflammation is and explore its effects on the skin, so you learn how to manage and prevent it.
WHAT IS INFLAMMATION?
Inflammation is part of the body’s natural defence mechanism and is a response to harmful stimuli such as pathogens, physical injuries, toxins and allergens. It occurs when the immune system sends out cells to fight or to heal. The skin is highly susceptible to inflammation and it can impact the skin’s health and appearance in many ways. Skin inflammation is the primary cause of skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation, redness, itching, psoriasis, eczema, acne, rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis – more commonly known as dandruff. It can also accelerate the skin’s ageing process as over time, it breaks down the skin’s natural production of collagen and elastin which leads to the development of wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SKIN INFLAMMATION
Skin inflammation can be either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation generally lasts a few hours to a few weeks and doesn’t leave permanent tissue damage. This can be triggered by exposure to irritants such as pollution, allergens, radiation and UV rays and shows in the form of acne, sunburn, blisters and allergic reactions. Aggressive and irritating skincare ingredients and treatments can also cause acute inflammation. Chronic inflammation refers to inflammation that persists longer than six weeks. Over time, the continued response of the immune system can lead to tissue damage which shows in the form of eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, impetigo, vitiligo and rosacea.
HOW TO PREVENT INFLAMMATION
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to preventing inflammation, however making healthy diet and lifestyle choices has been proven to reduce the effects. Eliminating smoking, keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum and avoiding antibiotics and harsh skin treatments such as acid peels and lasers can help prevent it. We also suggest the following:
Stress – manage your stress levels by practising meditation, deep breathing and having regular time away from devices.
Sleep - prioritise sleep and make sure you’re getting seven to eight hours of good quality sleep each night. This helps to regulate hormones and will give your skin the time it needs to heal and regenerate.
SPF – use a high-quality, broad-spectrum sunscreen every day.
Healthy diet - eliminate refined carbohydrates, fried foods and sugar from your diet. Focus on consuming a diet that is rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as leafy green vegetables, fatty fish, healthy fats, cherries, broccoli, tomatoes and turmeric.
Hydration – ditch the energy drinks and sodas and replace them with water and green tea.
Antioxidants - use clean skincare ingredients that support the health of your skin barrier function.
PROTECT YOUR SKIN WITH GLIST
As well as making healthy lifestyle choices, using good quality skincare products can help to reduce the effects of inflammation on your skin. Our Anti-Wrinkle Reviving Mask features a high concentration of anti-inflammatory, plant-based ingredients such as avocado oil, jania rubens extract, bacillus ferment and imperata cylindrica root extract to help calm and soothe the skin. Adding this mask to your skincare routine just twice a week will reduce inflammation and stimulate your skin’s natural production to leave you with a youthful and luminous glow.