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Skin Inflammation: Causes, Treatment, And Prevention
07/25/20228 min read
Has your skin been bothering you lately? If you’re noticing itchiness, redness, and bumps forming on your skin, you could have skin inflammation.
Several factors can cause skin inflammation, and some are unexpected. Luckily, there are many possible solutions and treatments to reduce inflammation.
Here at Bodewell, we want to help you discover what’s causing your inflammation and show you some possible solutions. Read on to discover how to calm your skin and ease your symptoms.
Table Of Contents
Causes Of Skin Inflammation
When your body senses that it needs to protect itself from something, it triggers an immune response. This can take the form of inflammation or a skin rash, and it can happen anywhere in the body. When inflammation happens on your skin, it can lead to itching and redness.
While inflammation can result from a number of causes, the most common are allergic reactions, dermatitis, poison ivy or poison oak, extreme temperatures, and stress. But it can also be caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
Let’s take a deeper look at these causes.
Allergic Reactions
When skin inflammation is caused by an allergic reaction, often, it will be in immediate response to contact with the allergen. Things like soap and laundry detergent, resins or varnishes, perfumes, and plant compounds often cause allergic reactions, especially on sensitive skin.
Food allergens are another common cause of inflammation, causing a rash, red bumps, hives, or itchiness.
In addition, the body can develop an allergy to any chemical or chemical combination, so don’t rule out an allergic reaction just because it may be an uncommon one.
Note: Some allergic reactions can be life-threatening and urgent. If you are experiencing dangerous symptoms, like itching or stinging in the mouth and throat or trouble breathing, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.
Dermatitis
The term dermatitis refers to a broad spectrum of skin issues, including dandruff, eczema, and psoriasis. Some dermatitis goes away on its own, but some cases can be hard to treat as it’s not always clear what’s causing them.
Poison Oak And Poison Ivy
If you’ve been out hiking or running in the last few days and start to notice an intense itching or burning sensation in your skin, you might have run into a patch of poison ivy or poison oak. This can be a bummer when you’re trying to enjoy nature!
If you do have inflammation from poison oak or poison ivy, don’t scratch the affected area too much or touch it with other parts of your body. Scratching can make the irritation much worse.
Extreme Temperatures
Another environmental factor, heat rash is a common cause of skin inflammation and often occurs when the skin is in prolonged contact with something hot. Even extended time in the sun can cause a heat rash and, of course, sunburns.
Cold temperatures can also cause skin inflammation. In fact, many people experience hives and itchiness or skin discoloration when exposed to harsh, cold weather.
Stress
Even without direct contact with irritating substances or extreme climates, you can develop skin inflammation from chronic or acute stress.
Because our skin has receptors for the stress hormone, cortisol, we see increased inflammation during these high-stress moments. In addition, if you already have an autoimmune condition, other chemicals can be released, making symptoms worse.
Viral Infections
Colds, chicken pox, flu-like viruses, and other infections can cause a skin rash during the time of illness, too. And the additional stress on your body can also contribute to inflammation.
Bacterial Infections
Unfortunately, some infections are caused by bacterial growth. These can result in oozing and discoloration and are considered more serious medical issues because they can enter your bloodstream or nearby bone and tissue and can be life-threatening.
Bacterial infections are often caused by something foreign entering your skin or by exposure to bacteria that can live on your skin.
An Additional Note: If you have skin inflammation of any kind, be careful not to scratch it too much, as broken and cracked skin can easily become infected. Although many forms of skin inflammation are not a cause for concern, some can be a sign of a serious medical situation.
Make sure you contact a doctor if your inflammation:
- Occurs suddenly
- Spreads quickly
- Begins to form blisters
- Is accompanied by a fever
- Is very painful to the touch
And if your inflammation is from an allergic reaction that is resulting in anaphylaxis, seek immediate emergency medical attention.
Treating Skin Inflammation
There are a few different ways you can treat skin inflammation, depending on its cause and what symptoms you’re having.
Topical treatments are often the first line of defense and can give you immediate relief from the discomfort. These types of treatments are usually in the form of a cream, ointment, lotion, or spray and target the irritated skin using anti-inflammatory and calming compounds.
Keep in mind that many topical treatments contain steroids and medications that can be harsh. Because of this, they are not advised for extended use.
Luckily, there are other, more natural options you can try for treating skin inflammation. In fact, many plants and funguses have natural anti-inflammatory properties.
Let’s take a look at some of these below.
1) Chamomile
You’ve probably heard of chamomile flowers, as chamomile tea is a common bedtime drink. It’s usually used to calm down and relax the mind, but it can also be used to heal inflammation, soreness, and burns.
2) Common Mallow
A purple flower found almost everywhere in North America, Common Mallow has been reported to have very potent anti-inflammatory abilities. It can help your skin in other ways, too, with antioxidant, anticancer, and skin tissue-improving properties.
3) Lentils
Did you know the lentils you have in your dinner salad can also contribute to your skin health? That’s because lentils also have anti-inflammatory properties.
In addition to these three plants, several others around the world contain natural anti-inflammatory properties. Unfortunately, it can be hard to access some of them.
Luckily, some products are designed to treat skin irritation naturally using these botanicals. For example, many of our BW22 Botanical formulations are clinically tested and are amazing at moisturizing your skin to help it heal itself.
Products with this blend are designed to help relieve skin symptoms from psoriasis and eczema. These products help address the discomfort of skin irritation associated with eczema or psoriasis. They are formulated to help promote healthier and clearer-looking skin over time.
Start with a Sensitive Skin Moisturizing Body Wash to gently cleanse all of your body from head to toe. Then finish with our Eczema Daily Calming Cream to soothe and relieve your skin.
If you’re curious about what other plants have been reported to do, read more about the 22 botanicals found in the Bodewell formula here! And you can always check out the academic sources for our BW22 Botanical Blend for more information.
Preventing Skin Inflammation
Some skin inflammation is hard to pin down, but if you can figure out the cause, you can prevent further irritation.
If your skin inflammation is being caused by allergens, you might need to switch your household products to something more gentle and hypoallergenic. Try natural laundry detergent and air fresheners, for example.
In addition, applying lotions or creams to your skin regularly — even when you don’t have any irritation — can go a long way toward keeping your skin healthy-looking. This is because they create a barrier between your skin and the outside world, protecting you from environmental irritants.
Relief On The Horizon
No matter what type of skin inflammation you are experiencing, there are answers to healing and relieving your skin. From applying medicinal salves and lotions to avoiding allergens, you can treat your skin to the soothing ingredients it needs while preventing further irritation.
Once you build a regimen to help support your skin’s restoration and health, you can expect the inflamed area to return to the skin you love and feel comfortable in — it may just take a little patience.
While it can be frustrating and embarrassing to have a rash or unhealthy-looking skin, don’t let it get you down. With the right tools and treatments, like Bodewell Eczema Daily Calming Cream, you can get back to clearer and calmer-looking skin in no time!
