Caernarfon Herald

Soothe operator

Finds out how antiinflam­matory products work, and what ingredient­s we should be looking out for

- PRUDENCE WADE

WHEN it comes to beauty, few things are as annoying as inflamed skin.

For many people, inflammati­on means skin that can be itchy, sensitive, red and uncomforta­ble – and sometimes, it can be all you can think about when you have a flare-up.

That’s perhaps why quick-fixes are everywhere on TikTok – you’ve probably seen the technique for ‘icing’ your skin, either with a jade roller you’ve left in the freezer, a frozen cucumber or even sticking your face (briefly) into a bowl of ice.

We’re becoming more aware of inflammato­ry skin conditions – particular­ly with celebritie­s speaking out about their struggles. Kim Kardashian has opened up about her journey with psoriasis – she had her first flareup at 25 – and famous faces with rosacea include Sam Smith and Cynthia Nixon.

If you’re struggling with a skin condition, it’s always a good idea to see your GP or a dermatolog­ist, so you can get the most appropriat­e treatment advice for you.

But if you have red skin that you’d simply like soothed, antiinflam­matory skincare might be worth checking out...

What is inflammati­on?

Your skin might be inflamed if it’s red, sore or itchy. Dr Preema Vig, medical director of the Dr Preema London Clinic (drpreema.com), says it “occurs due to an immune response in the body”.

This “can be triggered by conditions such as bacterial, viral and fungal infections, allergic reactions, internal disease, and some skin conditions such as dermatitis and psoriasis”.

It’s worth noting that darker skin tones can also struggle with inflammati­on – and it might not always manifest itself as noticeable redness.

For example, eczema might look like darker patches on darker skin, and those affected by the condition might still feel sore and itchy.

How does anti-inflammato­ry skincare work?

“Anti-inflammato­ry skincare contains ingredient­s that actively inhibit inflammati­on in the skin,” explains Dr Vig.

She can see why it’s becoming increasing­ly popular at the moment, saying: “Instead of buying a separate product such as an anti-inflammato­ry face cream, your skincare product is now giving those combined benefits, so you don’t have to purchase them separately.” Luckily, there are plenty of common skincare ingredient­s with anti-inflammato­ry properties. Dr Vig recommends looking out for products which include aloe, turmeric, calendula extract, witch hazel, niacinamid­e, sea buckthorn oil, vitamins C, D and E, oatmeal or ginger – “all these ingredient­s can help fight inflammati­on”.

If you don’t want to exacerbate the redness of your skin, there are also some products you might want to steer clear of, such as those “that contain synthetic fragrances”, Dr Vig suggests.

Anything else we should know?

As with most things, antiinflam­matory skincare isn’t necessaril­y a quick-fix. Although topical products “can start to give an immediate effect”, says Dr Vig, “you [might] want to address the inflammati­on that occurs in the deeper levels of the skin, and address the root cause”.

The skin is our largest organ, so you have to think of a range of factors when taking care of it.

“Often I will advise patients to evaluate their lifestyle (stress and raised cortisol levels), diet (certain foods can cause inflammati­on), water intake and amount of sleep – this can all contribute,” explains Dr Vig.

Ultimately, she advocates for a balanced lifestyle and skincare routine: “Do not forget the skin is an organ and benefits from vitamins, minerals and antioxidan­ts – from food, supplement­ation and also topical skincare.”

Don’t worry if your rednesspro­ne complexion is taking longer than you might want to clear up (but do seek expert advice if your symptoms are severe or getting worse).

As Dr Vig adds: “The time it takes to reduce and address inflammati­on varies from person to person, and also on any skin conditions they are suffering from (such as rosacea, acne etc).”

 ?? ?? Inflamed and non-inflamed skin
Inflamed and non-inflamed skin
 ?? ?? The skin is an organ and benefits from vitamins, minerals and antioxidan­ts – from food, supplement­sation and topical skincare
The skin is an organ and benefits from vitamins, minerals and antioxidan­ts – from food, supplement­sation and topical skincare
 ?? ?? Kim Kardashian has opened up about her psoriasis struggles
Kim Kardashian has opened up about her psoriasis struggles
 ?? ?? Dr Preema Vig
Dr Preema Vig

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