Is Inflammation Stealing Your Glow?

Designed to protect us, inflammation is a natural defensive response when our bodies encounter irritants, injuries, and infections. We naturally want to reduce the redness, swelling, and itchiness, but lasting relief doesn't come from covering the symptoms, but addressing the root cause.

We all encounter the acute inflammation that comes on quickly from an injury and stays for only a couple of days. It’s amazing how God designed our bodies to protect and heal.  However, it’s the chronic inflammation that creeps in slowly and causes havoc to many of our body systems, including our skin. Sometimes we don’t even recognize it as inflammation, and we just chalk it up to aging. (Insert all those joint pains, etc.)

However, chronic inflammation is often triggered by long term exposure to certain foods or irritants, chronic stress, persistent infections, or lifestyle factors and can even show up in our skin cells. While we often think of treating skin concerns topically and a good product or facial CAN be helpful, research shows that internal inflammatory factors, such as gut health, stress, and hormonal imbalances have a profound effect on the skin. Skin is not an isolated organ. It is often a visible reflection of internal health.

So how do you reduce chronic inflammation and improve your skin health? Start with 1 small change. Practice it daily, until it’s easy. Then add in another change. Your future glow is made up of a thousand daily decisions that compound into a healthier (or unhealthier) you.