(body) INFLAMMATION & how it affects your SKIN —

Inflammation is our body’s built-in defense system. It's there to assist in healing after an injury and is then designed to subside after your body heals. However, there are instances in our daily life which trigger long-term inflammation to stay constant in the body and contribute to unwanted skin conditions. Some of the most common ways that body inflammation can manifest on our skin are blotchy redness, early signs of aging, uneven hyperpigmentation spots, and stubborn breakouts. Inflammation causes our skin’s collagen and elastin to break down at a faster rate. This means that if you regularly expose your body to environments which cause inflammation (city dwellers, frequent flyers, and boozy brunchers!) fine lines and wrinkles will appear earlier. This is because the inflammation also causes a weakened moisture barrier, meaning you skin loses its ability to retain water. Inflammation is triggered from either an external or internal source. Pollution is a common one that we come into contact with everywhere (unless you live in the Swiss Alps!!). Other external causes of long-term inflammation include not using SPF as directed, over-exfoliating, using skincare products that don't keep your skin pH balanced, or with harsh fragrances, too much essentials oils, or other irritants. Stress is also huge one - the hormone, cortisol is elevated during stressful times, which in short term is a great thing, as it helps our body manage stress. However, if you experience stress often, cortisol backfires and causes inflammation.

While it’s hard to avoid all inflammatory triggers from our lifestyle and environment, your self-care efforts from getting proper sleep and exercise combined with nourishing the body inside and out will help to keep inflammation at bay. Its also a really good idea to mind what you eat. What we put inside our body truly reflects on the outside, so do your best to avoid foods that cause inflammation — saturated fats, fried foods, sugar, and refined carbohydrates.

Focus on skincare loaded with antioxidant-rich fruits and botanicals, healthy omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids, and Vitamins A, C & E.