Inflammation is a word that you’ll hear a lot if you have a skin condition like acne that causes redness and swelling.
What exactly is inflammation and what can you do about it?
Inflammation is a result of your immune system reacting to something that it sees as a threat. Chemicals released by your white blood cells work to increase blood flow to the area in order to recruit more immune cells to fight the infection. This can be helpful, but inflammation can also cause problems because it can affect your own cells too. In the most extreme cases, this results in autoimmune diseases that require medical care. In other cases, such as acne, you just end up with uncomfortable swelling and redness. These symptoms are caused not by the build-up of sebum and bacteria in your pores, but by the reaction of your own immune system.
Calming Your Skin
Acne treatments often focus on eliminating bacteria or reducing the production of oil and sebum. These treatments can be effective, but they don’t tackle the inflammation directly. If you have sensitive skin, then some over the counter acne treatments can actually irritate your skin even more, so it can be difficult to find an acne treatment that works. One option that can help with inflammation and irritation is phototherapy treatment.
Phototherapy treatment is one of the most effective ways to reduce inflammation. It uses specially chosen wavelengths of LED light to stimulate the desired response from your cells. Red light has an anti-inflammatory effect which can calm your skin. For acne treatment, it can also be combined with blue light, which has an anti-bacterial effect.
In addition to phototherapy treatment, it is also important to follow a calming skincare routine. Use non-comedogenic products, which are suitable for spot-prone skin, rinse your skin thoroughly when you cleanse, and use a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturiser every day.