SKIN INFLAMMATION
INFLAMMATION, SKIN, AND HOW TO FIGHT IT
Inflammation is a term that gets thrown around a lot - sometimes we associate it with feeling swollen, feeling in pain or maybe even feeling bloated. Really, it’s a defence response to external or internal (usually harmful) stimuli by our immune system. It’s an important part of injury recovery. We need a certain amount of it to survive! The problem is when the harmful stimulus is chronic and inflammation then becomes chronic.
When it comes to the skin, we can have inflammation due to UV exposure, allergens, pathogens (microbes!), and irritants (like in soaps we use or laundry detergents). But we can also have more internal factors - and these are much more challenging to pin point.
The gut microbiome, food sensitivities, chronic stress, lack of sleep, can contribute to inflammation - or maybe reduce our ability to clear inflammation. Anti-inflammatory actions in the body are there to balance inflammation!
When we think about skin, inflammation impacts several conditions, including acne, psoriasis, rosacea, rashes and infections. How we think about reducing this can be multifaceted - and include both internal and external treatments!
Our gut lining/barrier is important, but so is our skin barrier! Both help protect us from external threats and keep our immune system from mounting a response. We know that our gut lining is protected by our beneficial bacteria (and the anti-inflammatory compounds they produce!), but our skin is also protected in a similar way.
We have an acidic layer that protects us as well as fosters the growth of beneficial microbes. If we disturb this with alkalinizing soaps (many soaps have this effect), we not only disrupt a protective barrier, we also have a reduction in our good bacteria, leaving room for more pathogenic or acne causing bacteria. Disrupted pH can lead to higher inflammation and more symptoms.
Internally, feeding the beneficial bacteria with their favourite - plant fibres! - helps reduce inflammation and protect the gut lining. Eating more fibrous plants also supports balancing blood sugars (which is incredibly helpful for skin health - especially acne) and providing beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidant compounds. If fibre bothers your stomach and makes you feel bloated - let’s talk!
Skin health is complex and treatments involve internal and external solutions. There’s no magic potion (although we wish there was!)