Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/884148
52 november/december 2017 THE SCIENCE OF PUFFINESS We have all experienced inflammation at one time or another when we have an injury or illness. At the cellular level, inflammation is a sign that the immune system has been activated. The skin's Langerhans cells and keratinocytes attack inflammation immediately and signal with cytokines that help is needed. This initiates an inflammatory reaction, which triggers a two-stage immune response. First, white blood cells (leukocytes) produce natural inflammation stoppers (interleukins, prostaglandins) in the area surrounding the damaged cells. Second, other white blood cells (macrophages and neutrophils) migrate to the site of inflammation, where they release two classes of beneficial molecules—reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proteolytic enzymes (neutrophil elastase, collagenase, and matrix metalloproteinases). Together, these compounds provide protection from infections while promoting removal and repair of damaged cells and connective tissue. In healthy individuals, inflammation resolves. All is well again, and skin and tissues normalize. While it may not seem like a good sign, inflammation is the body's signal that healing is happening. THE CAUSES OF PUFFINESS The reasons why puffiness occurs are varied and involve internal, external, and emotional triggers. These assaults are numerous, are specific to individuals based on their chemical makeup, and can occur together as they overlap and even exacerbate each other. In general, however, the internal inflammation catalysts (or those inherent within the body) include diseases and systemic disorders and hormonal influences. The external catalysts include ultraviolet (UV) exposure, sedentary lifestyle, toxins, and bad dietary and lifestyle choices. The emotional causes include stress; specifically, cultural stress—the incessant noise and chaos of living in today's modern world. Because the body is designed to reach homeostasis, or balance, it is programmed to react to things that put it out of kilter. So, when systems are unhealthy, such as with diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, or digestive disorders; when we are exposed to too much UV and toxins; or when we get emotionally ramped up because of cultural stress, the body reacts with inflammation. Of all the causes of inflammation, the emotional part may be the most underaddressed and least-often identified. Stress causes inflammation, but most of the time we don't make the connection that how we feel aligns with the constant levels of inflammation we experience. It's the relentless stress of modern, everyday living— this new kind of cultural stress that most people don't We may not be able to stop inflammation completely, nor would we want to, but we can accelerate its healing and even prevent chronic inflammation. even notice—that affects the entire body and can contribute to serious health problems, inside and out. CHRONIC INFLAMMATION CAUSES DAMAGE When inflammation is chronic or constant, the beneficial molecules produced for healing end up hurting our cells, which results in tissue deterioration. Skin literally begins to break down from the effect of the ROS and proteolytic enzymes, making skin more fragile and promoting wrinkles. Skin conditions don't heal as well, rosacea flares become problematic, acne breakouts occur, hyperpigmentation sets in, and our skin ages faster. The aging process itself can cause constant low levels of inflammation because skin develops a disproportionate immune response—one that goes too far or not far enough to repair the environmental insult or stress-induced damage. With uncontrolled inflammation, skin is crying for help because it can't do it on its own—we have to act and assist it internally, externally, and emotionally. We may not be able to stop inflammation completely, nor would we want to, but we can accelerate its healing and even prevent chronic inflammation. To do this, we need to focus on water—intracellular water, that is.