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The Language of Inflammation: How Your Skin Cries for Help

By Kristen Laing-Herbert, Dermal Clinician and Co-Owner of LaGaia UNEDITED & People4ocean

Inflammation is the skin’s universal distress signal. Whether it whispers as subtle redness or screams through flares, burning, or swelling, inflammation is always a sign that your skin’s equilibrium has been disrupted.

At LaGaia UNEDITED, we treat inflammation as a foundational disruption, not just a symptom. Understanding its visual, sensory and systemic cues is key to decoding what your skin is trying to tell you—and how to soothe it effectively.

Let’s unpack how inflammation shows up, why it occurs, and how a combination of topical skincare, lifestyle practices, and clinical insight can restore your skin’s balance.

What Is Inflammation in Skin?

Inflammation is the immune system’s response to a perceived threat—be it UV, allergens, microbes, or internal stressors. When activated, the skin floods the area with inflammatory mediators: histamines, cytokines, and prostaglandins. This causes the characteristic signs: redness (vasodilation), swelling (fluid accumulation), heat, pain, and dysfunction.

Types of Cutaneous Inflammation:

  • Acute: Rapid onset, such as a sunburn, allergic reaction, or injury.
  • Chronic: Persistent and low-grade—like rosacea, eczema, or 'inflammageing' (long-term low-level inflammation linked to ageing).

How Inflammation Looks and Feels on the Skin

Inflammation doesn’t always look dramatic. It can be subtle and mistaken for a “bad skin week.” Here are key aesthetic and sensory cues:

Visual Signs:

  • Redness or pink flush (rosacea, dermatitis)
  • Blotchiness or mottled tone
  • Puffiness or swelling
  • Texture changes (rough patches, bumps)
  • Pigmentation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or melasma)

 Sensations:

  • Burning or stinging (especially with water or skincare products)
  • Itchiness or crawling sensations
  • Heat or tingling
  • Dry tightness or reactive oiliness

 Often Misdiagnosed As:

  • “Sensitive skin” (a symptom, not a diagnosis)
  • “Breakouts” (which can be inflamed but not always acne)
  • “Allergic reactions” when it’s actually barrier dysfunction 

Common Triggers of Skin Inflammation

1. Topical Irritants & Overuse of Actives

Over-cleansing, exfoliation abuse, or layering incompatible actives (like retinol and AHA) can rupture the skin barrier and expose deeper layers to environmental harm.

2. Environmental Stressors

  • UV radiation
  • Pollution and micro-dust
  • Windburn and temperature extremes

3. Lifestyle & Internal Triggers

  • Chronic stress (elevated cortisol breaks down collagen and lipid synthesis)
  • Lack of sleep (skin’s overnight repair is compromised)
  • Sugar and inflammatory foods (refined carbs, dairy for some individuals)
  • Hormonal imbalances (perimenopause, PCOS, adrenal fatigue)
  • Gut health dysfunction and food sensitivities

4. Medical Conditions

  • Rosacea, eczema, psoriasis
  • Perioral dermatitis
  • Seborrheic dermatitis and fungal overgrowth

Topical Skincare Solutions for Inflammatory Skin

At LaGaia UNEDITED, our formulations are built for micro-inflammation repair. We call this the silent stress—often present even when flare-ups aren’t visible.

1. Rebuild the Barrier

2. Ditch the Triggers

  • Eliminate fragrance, alcohol, and foaming agents from cleansers.
  • Replace with our pH Cleansing Cream, which uses gentle emulsifiers to lift debris without disrupting the acid mantle.

3. Rehydrate & Rebalance

  • Niacinamide, panthenol, and hyaluronic acid reduce inflammatory cytokines and support barrier resilience.
  • Our pH Balance Serum is ideal during flare-ups—fast-acting, non-comedogenic, and anti-redness.

4. Target Calm with Actives

  • Copper Peptides (Copper Infuse Gel), aloe vera, calendula, chamomile, green tea extract, liquorice root, and marine extracts (Resurrection Sheet Mask) support both antioxidant defence and fibroblast repair.
  • Avoid strong AHAs, retinol, and scrubs during active inflammation.

Need Help Calming Your Skin?

Begin your ritual →

Browse for sensitive skin →

Explore our Inflammation Edit:  Lifestyle Practices to Support Skin Recovery →

 **

References for further reading

Mechanisms of Inflammation in the Skin

  • Nestle, F. O., Di Meglio, P., Qin, J. Z., & Nickoloff, B. J. (2009). “Skin immune sentinels in health and disease.” Nature Reviews Immunology, 9(10), 679–691.

https://doi.org/10.1038/nri2622

  • Proksch, E., Brandner, J. M., & Jensen, J. M. (2008). “The skin: an indispensable barrier.” Experimental Dermatology, 17(12), 1063–1072.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0625.2008.00786.x

  • Elias, P. M. (2005). “Stratum corneum defensive functions: an integrated view.” Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 125(2), 183–200.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23668.x

Clinical Presentation & Diagnostic Markers

  • Baumann, L. (2007). “Skin ageing and its treatment.” The Journal of Pathology, 211(2), 241–251.

https://doi.org/10.1002/path.2098

  • Darlenski, R., & Fluhr, J. W. (2012). “Influence of climate on skin appearance and structure.” Skin Research and Technology, 18(1), 1–10.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0846.2011.00542.x

  • Wilkerson, M. J., et al. (2005). “Cutaneous histopathology of inflammation.” Veterinary Dermatology, 16(3), 182–198.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2005.00445.x

Triggers of Skin Inflammation

  • Kligman, A. M. (2000). “The pathogenesis of irritant contact dermatitis.” Archives of Dermatological Research, 292(9), 435–441.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s004030000149

  • Luebberding, S., Krueger, N., & Kerscher, M. (2013). “Age-related changes in skin barrier function.” International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 35(2), 183–190.

https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12027

  • Farage, M. A., et al. (2009). “Sensitive skin: lessons from irritant testing.” Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 28(4), 259–266.

https://doi.org/10.3109/15569520903268487

Topical Treatments & Actives

  • Pavicic, T., Gauglitz, G. G., Lersch, P., Schwach-Abdellaoui, K., & Blume-Peytavi, U. (2011). “Efficacy of cream-based novel formulations with niacinamide and panthenol.” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 10(3), 176–181.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2011.00573.x

  • Packer, L., Valacchi, G. (2002). “Antioxidants and the response of skin to oxidative stress.” Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 15(5), 282–290.

https://doi.org/10.1159/000064538

  • Rawlings, A. V., & Harding, C. R. (2004). “Moisturization and skin barrier function.” Dermatologic Therapy, 17(1), 43–48.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1396-0296.2004.04004.x

Lifestyle Influences on Inflammation

  • Slominski, A. T., et al. (2012). “The skin as an endocrine organ: implications for UV-induced inflammation.” Endocrine Reviews, 33(6), 827–864.

https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2012-1002

  • Leung, D. Y. M., & Guttman-Yassky, E. (2014). “Deciphering the complexities of atopic dermatitis.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 134(4), 769–779.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2014.08.008

  • Byrd, A. L., Belkaid, Y., & Segre, J. A. (2018). “The human skin microbiome.” Nature Reviews Microbiology, 16(3), 143–155.

https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro.2017.157

The Skin–Gut–Mind Axis

  • Scharschmidt, T. C., & Fischbach, M. A. (2013). “What lives on our skin: ecology, genomics and therapeutic opportunities of the skin microbiome.” Drug Discovery Today: Disease Mechanisms, 10(3–4), e83–e89.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ddmec.2013.02.003

  • Clarke, G., et al. (2014). “The microbiome–gut–brain axis during early life regulates the hippocampal serotonergic system in a sex-dependent manner.” Molecular Psychiatry, 18(6), 666–673.

https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2013.50

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