Summer. You know what they say.
“Hair gets lighter. Water gets warmer. Drinks get colder. Music gets louder. Nights get longer. Life gets better.”
But you know what sucks?
Waking up with bad skin! Think redness, acne, sunburn, dryness – so aka. inflammation.
Though inflammation is a complicated subject unto itself, this hot weather is exacerbating inflammatory issues especially when people are outside in the heat too long!
So what exactly is inflammation? And how might it be a problem for your skin? Let’s find out!
What is skin inflammation?
Inflammation is our body’s defense mechanism to protect itself.
It’s similar to how you’d feel pain after getting a cut. You’d feel hurt. The pain is your body’s way to signal to you that something is wrong. And that you should probably stop whatever it is you’re doing and look into it.
Inflammation works the same way.
It’s a sign that our immune system is working hard to detect and neutralize foreign substances, such as infectious microbes, irritants, and allergens. Or maybe it’s a reaction against an internal disease or health condition.
What are the signs of skin inflammation?
When your skin is inflamed, you’d see rashes on your skin. These rashes can cause redness, pain, itching, and dryness.
Furthermore, depending on the causes, these rashes can also show various symptoms.
For example, the rash can be smooth or scaly. It can be flat or raised. Sometimes, it can even cause blister or pimples. And at other times, it may even create raw or cracked skin areas that could bleed.
Because there are so many facets to inflammation, it could be challenging to diagnose and manage.
What causes skin inflammation?
There are many reasons why inflammation happens, both internally and externally.
Impaired immune system
Sometimes, your immune system may not be working properly. And so, it may create an immune response and react against regular, normal tissues. Psoriasis is an example, where the condition creates bumpy red patches covered in white scales on your skin.
Allergic reaction
This is a bit unavoidable. It happens when your immune system recognizes something as foreign substances and reacts. Anyone can get allergy from almost anything. It may happen when you eat a certain type of food, or maybe your skin touches an irritant or allergen like pollen, cat hair or poison ivy.
Bacterial, viral, or fungal infection
Sometimes, your skin may be infected with these organisms. When that happens, your immune system will react and fight them, and the aftermath is you’ll develop inflammation. For example, it could happen by the yeast present in the oil on your skin.
Photosensitivity
Basically, it means that your skin is sensitive to sunlight. There are certain conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, which can make you more photosensitive. In those cases, your skin is more susceptible to UV damage.
Heat
Have you noticed how sometimes when you’ve been under the sunlight for too long, your skin becomes flushed? And maybe at times, you even developed heat rash? Basically, what is happening is that your body heats up under the sun, which causes you to sweat. And the more you sweat, the more it gets trapped within your pores, which leads to irritation and potentially an unwanted heat rash.
Others
There are other different factors that cause skin inflammation. For example, there are conditions such as eczema or rosacea that you may be genetically predisposed to, the result of which means you're more prone to inflammation. Another factor is stress. When you’re stressed, your cortisol hormones will increase, which can also lead to skin inflammation.
What are the other effects of inflammation?
When your skin suffers from inflammation, the collagen and elastin in your skin break down faster. And as we all know, collagen and elastin are responsible for making our skin youthful, supple, and smooth. And not having enough of them means wrinkles and fine lines may appear more readily.
Inflammation can also weaken your skin barrier. And if you’re not familiar with it, your moisture barrier is the outermost layer of your skin. It’s responsible for preventing excessive water loss and keeping harmful substances from penetrating your skin. And once the skin barrier is weakened, your skin becomes irritated, sensitive, and dehydrated.
And another thing. This one is a shocker: Inflammation can also cause skin pigmentation. Whenever your skin is inflamed, maybe from a breakout or sunburn, you can expect to see darkened skin pigmentation right afterward.
Skincare for skin inflammation
So, what products can we use to treat inflammation?
You should use anti-inflammatory products to soothe out and calm down the inflammation. They work by inhibiting the body’s response to factors that lead to inflammation, by blocking the effects of certain enzymes that contribute to swelling and inflammation.
When you’re looking to buy an anti-inflammatory product, pay attention to these ingredients:
Aloe vera
This is the first ingredient you should look for to calm any inflammation. It does a great job at soothing and calming the skin. Also, it has some antibacterial components which can also help fight back against bacterial infection that could lead to inflammation. The best part? It’s a wonderful humectant that can seriously give your skin a boost of hydration – which can help replenish the water your skin loses when inflamed.
Also, find in Face Glow.
Aka. the Moroccan chamomile. It has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it great for calming the skin, reducing redness, and relieving delicate or troubled skin. The best thing about it? It can penetrate below the skin’s surface into deeper layers – making it extremely effective at fighting inflammation.
Also, find it in Intimacy Oil.
Aka. the plant-based retinol. Being true to its name, this ingredient has so many amazing benefits for the skin. It has antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties – helping your skin fight against a wide array of skin concerns. Even better, it helps reduce hyperpigmentation that could occur after inflammation.
Indian people have long recognized the benefits of turmeric as a skincare treatment for centuries. It has antioxidant, antibacterial, and potent anti-inflammatory properties. Basically, it'll soothe irritation, fight off acne, and keep wrinkles at bay. It also stimulates blood flow, which can bring life back into dull, tired skin. It really is a superfood.
Also, find in Putty.
Turmeric not only has anti-inflammatory properties that is beneficial to the skin, it also great for you overall health!
Our friends at WellTold say that chronic inflammation can go undetected for years and can lead to other serious conditions, including digestive disorders, heart disease, thyroid issues, chronic pain and even cancer.
Taking Well Told's Anti-Inlammatory can help reduce your experiences with joint pain, as well as help the healing process of any minor wounds, cuts, burns and minor skin irritations you may have.
Turmeric is a wholesome and overall incredible ingredient that has been overlooked for many years. Now, it is used everywhere from healing to beauty and health.
A final word
If you’re looking for a product that offers wonderful anti-inflammatory benefits, look no further than for Superfood Serum, Putty and Anti-Inflammatory (by WellTold). The main ingredient is turmeric – which really represents our love for clinically-proven superfood ingredients to help you look and feel your best.
