We all know that inflammation in the skin can be uncomfortable. It can cause burning, stinging, and sometimes these super fun, uncalled for reactions to our favorite products (don’t you just hate that?). Inflammation occurs in the skin when your skin is having an immune system response to damaged tissue, a wound, or foreign bodies. There are two types of inflammation to take a look at when referring to the skin.
Acute Inflammation: this is inflammation that appears rapidly in response to an irritant such as an ingredient allergy, sunburn, or from utilizing the wrong skincare products or using them too often. Acute inflammation doesn’t cause long-term tissue damage and can be remedied by adjusting your routine accordingly. Recovery from this kind of inflammation can take a few weeks, but improvements can occasionally be seen within a week of changing your routine.
Chronic Inflammation: this form of inflammation is long-term and happens when the immune system has to continuously release an anti-inflammatory response in the skin. Overtime and without proper control this can lead to tissue damage, however, there are professionals available to help diagnose, minimize symptoms, and treat these skin diseases. Some more common inflammatory skin diseases are psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea. If you’re experiencing any form of chronic inflammation we do recommend that you speak with a medical professional to get properly diagnosed.
Luckily, as far as inflammation goes, there are many ingredients that can help to repair our skin barrier, reduce redness, and reduce skin surface sensitivity. Let’s dive into a few of the ingredients that can have these effects on the skin, but remember it’s also about how all ingredients in a formula work synergistically, not just one superstar ingredient alone.
Green Tea:
This popular beverage is also a wonderful anti-inflammatory ingredient. It has been shown to reduce skin swelling in studies. It also contains catechins, which are free radical scavengers that also reduce inflammation in the skin. The Control Corrective Redness Relief Serum contains green tea and bilberry extract to help reduce redness. It also contains honey extract to soothe and boost moisture levels in the skin which strengthens the skin barrier.
Beta Glucan:
Typically derived from yeast or oats (though there are other sources), beta glucan is a polysaccharide that diminishes redness and skin sensitivity. It’s also a potent antioxidant that can also moisturize the skin which diminishes the dry, flaky texture that sometimes comes with skin irritation. Benton has an Aloe BHA Skin Toner containing both beta glucan and aloe to strongly soothe the skin and prevent any irritation (if any) from it’s more minimal, but effective .5% salicylic acid. It also contains polyglutamic acid which acts as a humectant drawing in moisture from the air to the skin. It’s a beautiful, user-friendly product that will help reduce inflammation and breakouts for acne prone skin.
Blue Tansy Oil:
The research for this ingredient is very promising for reducing inflammation, acting as an antihistamine, and having soothing effects on the skin. Blue tansy oil is also filled with an antioxidant called azulene. Azulene has strong antibacterial properties and aids in reducing redness in the skin. Herbivore’s Lapis Facial Oil also contains kukui nut oil which contains healthy fatty acids like linoleic acid and omega 3’s, which are very anti-inflammatory. In addition, this oil blend contains jojoba oil which is great for hydrating the skin and regulating oil production.
Overall, skin inflammation can be a tricky journey so we would highly encourage you to meet with one of our licensed Estheticians to go over repairing plan for you.