Inflammaging is damaging your skin—but what is inflammaging?
Simply put, it’s a type of inflammation that happens as you get older.
Aging is a complex process, and recent research suggests it can contribute to a subtle but chronic low-grade type of inflammation throughout the body.
This can, in turn, increase your risk for cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, dementia, and more.
Scientists have also found a connection between inflammaging and skin aging. Here’s what we know so far, and what you can do to prevent this type of aging from manifesting on your skin.
Inflammaging is Damaging Your Skin: How It Happens
As we age, the skin undergoes several changes. It can become drier and thinner, while collagen and elastin production decrease, resulting in sagging and bagging. One reason for this is the low-grade inflammation that can occur throughout the body.
Inflammation is usually a healthy part of the immune system. When you cut yourself, the immune system sends cells to the area to help repair it. Part of that process includes the redness and swelling you may see around the wound, which goes away once the wound is healed.
Chronic inflammation, however, is thought to be a malfunction of the immune system. Rather than revving up and then calming down, the inflammation continues on a low hum. This type of inflammation can be triggered by many factors, including environmental stressors like the following:
ultraviolet radiation
the use of toxic or harsh ingredients in skin care products
over-exfoliation
chemicals in skincare and makeup
medical treatments
pollution
poor diet
lack of exercise
Aging itself, however, also increases the risk of chronic inflammation, which is why scientists now call it “inflammaging.”
Inflammaging is Damaging Your Skin: What Happens to the Skin
Inflammaging leads to several changes in the skin that contribute to its aging.
Collagen Breakdown
Inflammatory cytokines in the blood degrade collagen, resulting in a loss of skin firmness and elasticity.
Increased Oil Production
Inflammation can lead to increased sebum (skin oil) production, which may cause acne or exacerbate skin conditions like rosacea.
Oxidative Stress
Inflammation generates free radicals—unstable, destructive molecules that can damage skin cells and accelerate aging.
Impaired Barrier Function
Chronic inflammation compromises the skin barrier, making it more susceptible to irritants, allergens, moisture loss, and infection. All these can also increase inflammation in the skin.
Furthermore, a weakened skin barrier will not retain hydration, resulting in dryness, dullness, redness, irritation and other skin conditions.
Inflammaging is Damaging Your Skin And Perhaps the Rest of Your Body
Exciting early studies in inflammation indicate that when you reduce inflammaging in the skin, you can reduce it in the body as well.
In a 2019 study from the University of California, San Francisco, for instance, scientists found that when participants between the ages of 58 and 95 applied a skin-repair cream all over their bodies twice a day for 30 days, their levels of inflammatory cytokines decreased compared to their levels before they started using the cream.
In fact, using the cream lowered their cytokine levels to be nearly equivalent to people in their 30s. The cream also improved skin hydration, lowered pH, and repaired the outer barrier.
This suggests that rejuvenating the skin can reverse inflammaging throughout the body—and that connects to another interesting idea the researchers had. What if the chronic inflammation that typically affects older people originates in the skin?
So far, we don’t know why inflammation levels increase as we age. Theories have pointed to a malfunction of the immune system or perhaps a liver issue. But these scientists theorized that the inflammation has to come from a big enough organ that a very minor level of inflammation in that organ would affect the whole body.
“Skin is a good candidate for this because of its size,” said senior study author Mao-Qiang Man, M.D. “It could be that the skin has very minor inflammation, and because it’s such a large organ it elevates circulating cytokine cells.”
Inflammation is Damaging Your Skin: How to Stop It
It will be interesting to see what the research reveals as we move forward. One thing is clear—keeping your skin healthy is a great way to keep the rest of your body healthy, too!
How can you reduce inflammaging to promote healthier, younger-looking skin?
Try these tips.
Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
What you eat can significantly affect the inflammation levels in your body. Choose foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds to help combat skin aging. Good options include fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, healthy fats (like those in fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts), and spices (like turmeric, garlic, pepper, and basil).
Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins and keep your skin hydrated from the inside out. In addition to drinking eight glasses of water per day, try to add water-rich foods like melons, cucumbers, and oranges to your diet.
Limit Environmental/Lifestyle Stressors
Several environmental and lifestyle factors can trigger inflammation. Wear sunscreen to protect from UV rays, avoid smoking and excess alcohol, reduce your exposure to outdoor pollution, and minimize stress. Chronic stress can exacerbate inflammation in the body.
Incorporate Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients Into Your Skin Care
As noted in the study above, regularly applying anti-inflammatory ingredients to your skin can help reduce inflammation.
CV Skinlabs products were created to help reduce inflammation and keep skin healthy. All of our products contain our proprietary Tri-Rescue Complex, a blend of potent anti-inflammatory ingredients with a high antioxidant profile, designed to help repair the skin barrier and restore skin health and radiance.
They include the following ingredients (and more) designed to keep inflammation at bay:
Curcumin: Derived from turmeric, curcumin has potent anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines and promote skin healing.
Aloe vera: Aloe vera has a long reputation for helping to reduce inflammation in the skin. It also lowers redness and irritation.
Centella Asiatica: Also known as Gotu Kola, this plant extract helps stimulate collagen production and reduce inflammation. It’s particularly effective for sensitive skin.
Reishi Mushroom: Celebrated for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, Reishi also helps strengthen the skin barrier, protecting against environmental stressors.
Bisabolol: A natural compound derived from chamomile, bisabolol is known for its calming effects on the skin. It helps reduce redness and inflammation and works great for sensitive types.
Shop our CV Skinlabs line of products today. Use any or all of them to gain the benefits of daily inflammation protection.
Have you heard that inflammation is damaging your skin?
Featured image by Marcus Aurelius via Pexels.