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Skin, the burning problem
Among all the possible challenges a teenager can face, bad skin was the one (the only one, in fact) I was spared from. „Well, at least I have a great skin” even became my inside joke I told myself repeatedly to compensate the bitterness that came with growing so fast I became 15 cm taller than all the boys I liked over one summer vacation. Early in my 20s I thought I would never have to question my skin’s condition, nor to feel bad about it. Oh, the beauty of wishful thinking.
What is skin inflammation?
It was all because of a misconception. I truly believed that skin problems were related to the hormonal changes in a maturing body. Once the storm is gone, one should stay with the clear skies and a clear skin forever. But unfortunately this is not how the nature created us. Skin’s inflammation is an immunological reaction and has nothing to do with age in itself. This is how the body, younger or older, recognizes foreign invaders, such as bacteria or harmful substances, and defends itself against them.1 Non scientifically speaking, it’s the way your skin tells you „hey, there is something going on here and I don’t like it!”. And the body doesn’t stop just there. It sends many signals through the skin to make sure you got the message right: 2
Not every skin reaction has the same root cause and the same symptoms. There are two types of skin inflammation:3
Acute: it develops rapidly and visibly and lasts short-term; this type of inflammation doesn’t cause permanent tissue damage
Chronic: it develops slower and the symptoms might not always be visible from the beginning; if untreated, it can lead to chronic disease and tissue damage
According to the data, the problem of skin inflammation is becoming more and more burning.4 Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting up to 50 million Americans annually. Atopic dermatitis affects up to 25 % of children. Rosacea can affect up to 46% of the global adult population.5 And unfortunately, looking for the solution for a flared-up skin can’t be limited to choosing the right face cream.
What causes skin inflammation?
The key to inflammation-free skin isn’t just dealing with the symptoms. I assure you that if you won’t get to the root cause and treat it right, they will come back quickly. Now I know that if I had invested my money in a long overdue vacation and simply rested more instead of buying more expensive and not really effective face creams, my skin in my late 20s would not had gone through „a teenager’s problems” phase. Treating the root cause might take time, patience and consistency but once you understand how to optimize your body’s anti-inflammatory mechanism, you’ll see the long-lasting results. The most common conditions that cause skin inflammation are:
Gut health problems Research shows that an imbalanced gut microbiome is linked to skin inflammation and chronic inflammatory skin conditions.6 This connection, often referred to as the skin-gut axis, makes our skin, body’s largest organs, a barometer of intestinal health.7 The more weakened and less varied gut microbiome, the bigger chance your skin will start flaring up and breaking out.
Stress When we continually operate from a place of stress, our DNA replicates faster, speeding up the inflammation, oxidative stress and aging process. (source) Emotional stress also increases the level of cortisol, which prompts the skin’s sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. This extra dose of oil clogs the pores and accelerates inflammation, resulting in acne. (source)
Diet Nutritional deficiencies can manifest in dermatological changes. When your diet is poor in ascorbic acid, retinol, protein-based energy, niacin, essential fatty acids or zinc, your skin might get more prone to inflammation-related disorders.8
Allergies Allergies occur when the body’s immune system reacts to a particular substance -such as pollen, cosmetics ingredients or certain types of foods- as potentially harmful. Some allergies can cause skin inflammation, including rash, burning, redness, bumps, hives, and swelling.9
Immune system dysfunctions Dysfunction within the immune system can cause immune cells to mistakenly attack your body’s own healthy cells. This can speed up the skin cell production process and cause skin barrier abnormalities.10
Hormonal imbalance I wasn’t fully wrong with my initial misconception regarding the influence of hormones on the overall skin condition. When we fall out of hormonal balance, our skin speaks. Even a slight imbalance of the sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, or excessive testosterone and androgens can result in acne, dryness and flared-up, itchy skin.11
How to fix skin inflammation?
To improve the health of your skin, you mustn’t overlook the role of your overall health. As Dr. Mark Hyman says, „good skin comes from inside out, not the outside in”.12 Here’s what you can do to get the inside job done right:
Mind your diet Some foods have properties that increase inflammation and may cause acne, blemishes and dry, itchy skin. Sugar raises insulin levels, which promotes the production of testosterone and might cause inflammation.13 Saturated and processed fats increase arachidonic acid levels leading to more inflammation and acne. 14 Overconsumption of milk and diary can contribute to skin conditions in both adults and children.15 What should we eat then for a healthy, glowing, inflammation-free skin? It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that the best option is the plant-based, nutrient-dense diet. Aim for meals including low GI fruits, dark leafy greens, turmeric, ginger, nuts, fatty fish and water-rich vegetables and ditch the sugar cravings. Embrace the diversity of natural foods and try to eat as colorful as possible to give yourself a big amount of antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. 16
Feed your microbiome Keeping the gut microbiome happy is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and reducing skin inflammation17 and the diet you chose plays a large role in determining what kinds of good bacteria live in the colon.18 To help reduce the inflammation, focus on probiotics-rich foods: kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, pickles, miso, tempeh or kimchi.19
Stress less I know, this is the most annoying advice one can get when trying to live healthier. Stress is inevitable but a conscious approach to managing it can help improve the quality of live and increase the sense of well-being.20 Intense stress over-stimulates the immune system, leading to the imbalance between inflammation, an essential component of chronic diseases, and anti-inflammatory immune response.21 Keeping your stress hormone, cortisol, level at bay by engaging in stress-releasing activities including meditation, breathing exercises, working out, journaling and spending time with supportive community will have an anti-inflammatory effect on your entire body.22
Test for allergies Even if you’ve never experienced an anaphylactic shock, your body can give you more subtle allergy signals and skin inflammation could be one of them.23 The allergens, substances causing exaggerated immune response, can be found in food, cosmetics, dust, pollen, mold, dander, medicine, jewelry and even clothes, making your body defend itself with overproduction of antibodies.24 Skin conditions are one of the most common forms of allergy treated and managed by an allergologist, so if you notice your skin gets repeatedly irritated, swollen or itchy and you can’t figure out the cause, make sure to book your visit.25
Try before buying If a cosmetic is filled with irritating ingredients (that includes an excessive amount of essential oils), it can throw skin out of balance and start an inflammatory response. Before investing in a new cream of cleansing product, do a patch test first. Ask for a sample and use a small amount on the inside of your elbow and wait 48 to 72 hours. If redness, swelling or burning sensation appears, look for a safe alternative to the product. 26
Calm your skin with skincare Yes, what you put inside your body is crucial for regulating inflammation, but it doesn’t mean your beauty routine doesn’t matter. It does, a lot. If you want to make sure your cosmetics promote balanced, soothed skin, chose the ones with active, anti-inflammatory components. Our favorites? The most potent ones: Acerola extract, Boswellia Serrata extract, Coenzyme q10, Rosemary Leaf extract, Tea Seed extract and Gluconolactone. You can find all of them in our LAST Skincare range. 27
Take care of you mind Technically skin conditions are strictly physical but they can have a substantial psychologic and social impact.28 According to psychologists, developing avoidance-coping mechanisms, poorer quality of life, increased risks of depression and anxiety, frustration and reduced self-esteem are the most common emotional consequences of developing skin problems. Reducing inflammation can be a time-consuming mission but it can be much less of a burden, if you learn to treat yourself with self-acceptance. Engage in activities that make you feel good about yourself and less detached from your body. You can read more about the science-based art of happiness here: https://www.last-skincare.com/the-art-of-happiness/
Knowing how many factors affect my skin, I’ve learnt to accept that its condition might change over time. And whenever it changes the way I don’t appreciate, I try to take it as a lesson. Goodbye wishful thinking, hello listening to my body more carefully.
Marzena Jarczak
An international model based in Paris. A researcher, copy writer and a journalist exploring for us the areas of neuroscience, brain, biohacking, living healthy life. Author of Out & About series discovering cultural life in Paris in all its aspects. A strong, wise personality with a growth mindset.
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