Have you heard the term inflammation? If you haven’t, you’ll want to read it. In a nutshell, inflammation is a term used to describe aging caused by chronic, persistent inflammation. Chronic inflammation depletes the skin’s defense system which in turn weakens the skin’s structure leading to rapid collagen decline. All this together equals premature aging. Health issues such as Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and even cancer have also been attributed to inflammatory.
Sounds scary, right? Is. We’ll break it down for you so you can make sure you’re doing all the right things for your skin, health and wellness!
What causes skin inflammation?
Dehydration
When you’re dehydrated, your skin suffers. When your skin is dehydrated, it is susceptible to infections, breakouts and congestion, and atopic skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Fear not, you can boost your hydration fast smartly.
First, commit to drinking 2 liters of water a day. We know, we know it seems like a lot, but here’s a quick trick. Buy a 1 liter bottle of drink and try to drink it before lunch. Refill your drink bottle and aim to drink it before dinner. We promise you will see a noticeable difference in your skin because of it.
When it comes to skin, you need to boost hydration with a hydrating serum mix (eg Olive Skin Serum) twice a day followed by a lovely thick moisturizer (our Repair olive cream it’s amazing!) morning and night. Try to go sans-makeup if you can so your skin has a chance to repair itself.
Bad nutrition
We believe your skin is only as good as your diet, so if you’re dealing with inflammation, your diet is a great way to start.
Limit these foods to reduce inflammation in your skin:
- Alcohol it depletes the amount of zinc and magnesium in your body and is toxic to your liver.
- Meat it is known to slow down your digestive system and increase the bad bacteria in your gut.
- Dairy slows down the natural detoxification process.
- Gluten and wheat it can irritate your intestines leading to indigestion, bloating and constipation.
- Caffeine it dries out your skin and increases toxins in your body.
- Salt it dehydrates your body and slows down the detoxification process.
- Sugar it reduces good bacteria and leads to inflammation.
Instead, fill your plate and stomach with these superfoods:
- Avocado it is rich in potassium, promotes the absorption of good fats and cleanses the liver and intestines.
- Leafy green vegetables they are rich in iron, rich in antioxidants and will reduce inflammation.
- Garlic not only does it flavor food, it has immune-boosting properties that help detoxify the liver and fight disease.
- Lemon It is packed with vitamin C which increases collagen production and helps cleanse the body of environmental stressors.
- Apples it can cleanse your body of toxins and lower your cholesterol.
- Tumeric it protects your body, promotes digestion and is known to be antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and a powerful antioxidant.
Toxins & Environmental Stressors
Did you know that it only takes 26 seconds for chemicals to enter your bloodstream? When you think about all the bad things floating around it’s a pretty disturbing fact. Along with toxic chemicals, the harsh Australian weather and intense sunlight is really hard on your skin.
To protect your skin from damage and harsh chemicals, we recommend the Acai Berry Antioxidant Serum. This will tackle any problem at its root while feeding your skin with much-needed vitamins and nutrients. All of these combined will keep your skin happy and as an added bonus, boost your collagen production!
The only sustainable solution is to care for your skin with solutions that also contribute to a cleaner and greener environment. Botani’s range of organic treatments provides safe, natural and eco-friendly skin care, without compromising on quality.
Watch out for these nasty chemicals that work against your skin’s health:
- PEG also known as Polyethylene Glycol can damage the nervous system and affect reproductive health.
- Parabens they mimic estrogen and disrupt our hormonal balance.
- Artificial fragrance it usually includes chemicals known to cause cancer, respiratory problems, reproductive problems and more.
- Silicone it forms a seal over your skin that clogs pores and traps dirt.
If your beauty products are loaded with PEGs, parabens, fragrance or silicone, they should never touch your skin. Also? They have ZERO benefits to your skin care routine. Instead, try Botani’s botanical, natural, vegan skincare range. Your skin (and your health) will thank you for it.
Psychological stress
Stress can wreak havoc on your skin. Along with our emotional health, stress can really affect the health of our skin. When our bodies and minds are stressed, cortisol floods the system. This hormone causes inflammation.
Once this inflammation becomes chronic, our health is affected. You may notice it through pain, swelling, digestive problems, fatigue, excess oil production, dark circles under the eyes and fine lines.
If these symptoms persist, you will likely notice that your skin is aging faster than it should.
Fight the stress in your life and you’re on your way to a strong body, mind and, gorgeous, even skin. Consider committing to a weekly one Radiant Rose Face Mask. This works to penetrate your skin and heal it from within. As an added bonus, it’s an excuse for some rest and relaxation.
Aging is something that happens to all of us, we believe that these fine lines are earned and should be celebrated. If, however, you want some expert advice on aging and your skincare routine, we’ve developed a guide here.
Sources:
LOBACHEVSKY UNIVERSITY Scientists Identify Role of Chronic Inflammation as Cause of Accelerated Aging NEWS RELEASE JAN-29-202
