Inflammatory Skin Disorders
Inflammation is a potential cause of many illnesses, from depression to heart disease (5). Studies are now showing the link between common skin disorders, our microbiome, and the levels of inflammation within the body (6).
Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and dermatitis are all triggered by an inflammatory response in the body. Triggers can range from food or product allergies to environmental factors and fungal or bacterial infections. There are many ways to compromise your skin barrier or develop this type of skin disorder. How these health issues manifest on the skin can also look different for everyone.
Inflammatory skin conditions should be treated holistically and encompass a combination of diet, topical remedies, treatments, and product use. Skin sensitivities can affect how you feel about yourself, so knowing that you can find a treatment is helpful.
Because there is a wide range of inflammatory skin responses and suggested treatments, a trained Aesthetician can help you properly treat these issues.
What is an inflammatory response?
Essentially, it is when tissue is damaged or injured. Your skin can become damaged due to an allergy or internal issue, from environmental elements, and even from product use.
When we continuously use a high pH product or a deeply exfoliating product on the wrong skin type, it can cause drying that eventually leads to an inflammatory response. The result would likely look like a rosacea or eczema breakout.
If you have a diet high in inflammatory foods or are a smoker, you can induce internal inflammation. It has even been clinically shown that an unbalanced microbiome could cause acne and Rosacea (6). This could trigger eczema or an allergic skin response.
How can I fight inflammation internally?
Diet should be considered when dealing with inflammation on the more extreme side. Studies show that eating a diet rich in whole foods lowers your overall inflammation (5). There is even a diet regimen named the Anti-inflammatory Diet for this reason.
Foods like fresh fruits, nuts, and leafy greens decrease inflammation, whereas highly refined foods do the opposite. Red meat, white bread, and fried goods increase inflammation.
Supplements such as CBD and turmeric are well known plant-based remedies for inflammation. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a plant cultivated in tropical regions. It is a superfood used for heart health, joint pain, and more. Curcumin is the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound in turmeric. It also gives turmeric that bright yellow-orange hue. Turmeric can be taken internally and used as a topical remedy (5).
CBD, a cannabis hemp derivative, is highly effective at reducing inflammation. This is an excellent compound because it is effective internally and externally. This is especially helpful with skin disorders. Infused treatments and daily supplements combined are helpful with eczema, psoriasis, and more.
There are many natural remedies for inflammation. Each can be applied topically or taken internally to heal these sensitive skin disorders (3). Anti-inflammatory herbs and plants include:
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana).
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra).
Willow bark (Salix alba).
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
Calendula (Calendula officinalis).
Are there treatments used to treat these conditions?
There are services that can help mitigate the symptoms of inflammation, and some of them are pretty surprising! Botox, for instance, is clinically shown to improve inflammatory conditions like Rosacea (1) (2). The botulism bacteria restricts nerve signals to the muscle, allowing them to relax naturally.
LED light therapy is a useful tool in decreasing inflammation and combating the effects of eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Blue light is specifically used to help with redness and sensitivity.
CBD can be used both internally and externally to heal the skin. CBD treatments are gaining popularity, with research showing the anti-inflammatory powers of cannabis. Treatments infused with cannabidiol are deeply moisturizing, calm the skin, and support deep healing. There is no THC in cannabidiol products, so that you can harness the plant's super anti-inflammatory powers without risk.
Of course, a professional Aesthetician will have the best advice and treatment suggestions based on your individual skin needs. A customized plan will help you achieve the best holistic results
Jae Eun Choi. 2019. Botulinum toxin blocks mast cells and prevents rosacea-like inflammation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30658871/
Jacopo Scala. Botulin Toxin Use in Rosacea and Facial Flushing Treatment. 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6910814/
M A. Dohil. Natural Ingredients in Atopic Dermatitis and Other Inflammatory Skin Disease. 2013. https://jddonline.com/articles/natural-ingredients-in-atopic-dermatitis-and-other-inflammatory-skin-disease-S1545961613S0128X/?_page=2
Foods that fight inflammation. 2021. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation
Javad Sharifi-Rad. 2020. Turmeric and Its Major Compound Curcumin on Health: Bioactive Effects and Safety Profiles for Food, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnological and Medicinal Applications. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.01021/full
L. Chen. 2020. Skin and Gut Microbiome in Psoriasis: Gaining Insight Into the Pathophysiology of It and Finding Novel Therapeutic Strategies. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33384669/