Reduce inflammation for youthful skin?
I’m trying out a new line of products that contains a propriety blend which promises to sustain a more youthful appearance of the skin by reducing inflammation in the body. I’m about two weeks into testing the product and because I’m starting to see some positive response, I’ve become rather intrigued with the inflammation theory of aging.
Inflammation theory of aging
While researching into the subject, I came across information by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a famous dermatologist who came up with the Perricone Promise, which some of you may have heard or are familiar. Dr. Perricone is also considered to be the father of the inflammation theory of aging (source).
Inflammation causes free radicals
It is common knowledge that getting wrinkles is part of growing older. As your skin ages, the collagen and elastin that keep it supple weaken and cause the skin to lose some of its resilience. However, Dr Perricone goes a step further to argue that it is inflammation at the cellular level that causes free radicals to form which damage collagen and elastin in the skin leading to wrinkle formation and sagging skin. From what I read, this happens when tissue breakdown occurs, such as with free radical attack, and white blood cells are mobilized to clean up the debris, creating an inflammatory response.
The glycation process
And according to Dr Perricone, 50% of skin aging is due to the glycation process, which refers to sugar attaching or cross linking to collagen cells. The damage to skin occurs when sugar levels go up drastically and frequently say, when you binge on sugar several times a day. This is why sugar is said to be a major culprit for skin aging.
In addition, stress in the body both physical and emotional cause changes to our hormonal systems that have a negative impact on aging by increasing inflammation at a cellular level.
Treat inflammation to reverse aging
Dr Perricone suggest that treating inflammation would reverse the aging process and this is what is indicated on his website.
Inflammation, which takes place on a cellular level, is triggered by a wide variety of external factors such as the ingestion of toxins (i.e. cigarette), a weakened immune system, excess exposure to ultraviolet radiation, hormonal changes, stress and eating a pro-inflammatory diet (high glycemic carbohydrates). By controlling inflammation we minimize disease and maintain skin’s health and youthfulness.
His theory has met with many critics and skeptics but now that I’m seeing a positive response using products combating inflammation, I can’t help but think there’s a very strong basis that it is probably true that an overall reduction of inflammation in the body can indeed combat free radical damage as well as collagen and elastin cross linking, resulting in an increase in elasticity.
If this is so, then the promise of having youthful skin is really not too far off and Botox may not be necessary to achieve a facelift anymore. Well, I certainly hope so. And more hopefully, I wish I can bring you some good news in another two weeks or so!
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Wow! That’s interesting. Can’t wait for your review in 2 weeks time. By the way, I saw your photo in another beauty blog, your skin is really glowing compared to the rest who were in the same photo with you. Your skin really stands out!! May I know what is your daily skincare regime like?
Peapot: I think I know which picture you’re referring to. Not glow, more like shine from my mineral makeup and grease! ? And I’m not pulling your legs.
You know today I had to fill in what I use for my skincare and I had trouble doing that. My skincare regime varies overtime cos I keep introducing new products into it…Recently it was this:
In the morning, I’ll cleanse with Sukin cleanser, then tone with a rose hydrosol, use grapeseed oil and then my sunscreen. That period where that picture was taken I believed I used a vit C serum, grapeseed oil and then sunscreen.
In the evening, I cleanse with Yuan Mung Bean soap, use Lavera Calendula toner, vit C serum, seabuckthorn oil and then John Masters Organic Mandarin Moisturizer.
Interesting read, though I wonder how this would apply to me, since I have sensitive skin prone to redness/inflammation, which, according to this article, may cause aging, and is brought about from a hyper-glycemic diet. I’ve had my sugar levels tested, and it came out at the low minimum. Then again, inflammation can be caused by alot of things, as you say. I would like to read on this further…
innerchild: I read from a book before that whenever your skin has flare ups from sensitivity, it will age the skin a little…which is why it’s important to prevent them.
I agree with the sugar part!!!
Other than that, smoking and alcohol consumption makes you look older.
But you have no worries! As what peapot said, you look young! You look younger than my manager and she is only in her mid-20s.
Ms Blacklace: I wish I look younger than my age but no way can I pass off as your manager’s age or even close. Anyway, pictures can be deceiving cos of lighting and makeup. ?
I heard that a zinc supplement would help to reduce inflammation and reduce acne and acne scaring.
Not exactly sure if that is true. But I have been taking zinc supplement for about 3 months and cutting soy products which block zinc absorption. Well, plus scrub twice a week, clay mask and etc etc. I am not using anything whitening besides applying sunscreen and sea buckthorn oil (which I have been using for about a month only).
True enough, the dark spots caused by my acne is disappearing. Yay! ?
I am incline to believe that its the zinc and my avoiding beancurd, soy milk, etc which used to be my breakfast. Coz old wives’ tales has it that eating more soy sauce will cause dark marks from acne to stay longer. Not scientific, but may have some truth in it.
I’m quite interested to read your review about the skincare you use! Please do one soon. ?
pf: Hey, that’s interesting! I heard something about zinc for acne too. I don’t take it now and am not sure if I have sufficient zinc but I used to take a zinc supplement for my hair though. I suspect my sudden development of new zits and old ones that are so difficult to get rid off is due to my intake of diary products. I drink milk every other day to prevent PMS and about a month of two ago, I introduced cheese into my diet. I’m trying to cut down diary to see if it has any effects.
For my new product, yes I will review but there is a drawback to the product. It contains alcohol so some pple may not like it even if it works.
Lol… True on that one. Or maybe my manager just looks older than she is. She used to be over weight when she was younger, and she lost some pounds over the years.
Or what she says:”All my excess skin looks like wrinkles.”
Ms Blacklace: Ah…when one lose weight rapidly, the skin can sag…
You can try to use EPO for your PMS. I take 2,000mg everyday.
pf: I started to take; need to monitor if it helps.
As much as you hear that what you eat doesn’t effect your skin, I cannot help but think, “of course your diet can effect your skin’s health!” I really think there is a lot of validity to Perricone’s thinking and you wrote a great article here.
And, I am looking forward to hearing about if you notice any improvements or changes in the next few weeks!
Jen: I’m a firm believer that we are what we eat. I was trying to borrow Perricone Promise today but I forgot that I’ve reached my book loan quota!