Skin Inflammation: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

Guest Blog Post By Noor UI Ain, Biochemist and Molecular Biologist

Skin inflammation, also known as dermatitis, is an immune response that can be activated by certain environmental and genetic factors. Whether you're experiencing acne, eczema, or psoriasis, the underlying cause is your body's immune system.

You may feel uncomfortable and anxious to show your skin, but it's actually your body's protective response against thousands of infective agents. It can be some triggering factor that's causing your skin to be inflamed. Like all other parts of your body, your skin also defends you by triggering skin's immune response. In this blog, you'll get to know about skin inflammation, the molecular reasons behind your skin inflammation, symptoms and how you can prevent them.

Basically, skin inflammation is a medical condition. It's a broad term that encompasses various skin disorders like acne, rosacea, hives, psoriasis, contact dermatitis and eczema. 

“The most common inflammatory skin conditions include chronic disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, folliculitis and allergic urticaria.” -Dr. Ravi Ratnavel (Dermatologist in UK)

They're characterized by redness, swelling, itching and irritation of the skin. These conditions can range from mild to deliberately chronic ones. There are various types of skin inflammation, each has its unique characteristics.

COMMON TYPES OF SKIN INFLAMMATION

1. CONTACT DERMATITIS
• Cause: Exposure to irritants or allergens like soap, cosmetics, certain plants, or metals can induce irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.
• Symptoms: Its symptoms include rash, redness, itching and swelling at the area of contact.
2. ECZEMA
• Cause: Eczema is often genetic and can be triggered by some environmental factors.
• Symptoms: Dry, itchy skin, redness, rash, sometimes bleeding skin.
3. PSORIASIS
• Cause: Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune cells attack healthy skin cells.
• Symptoms: Thickened, red patches of skin, sometimes joint pain.
4. ACNE
• Cause: Clogged skin pore or hair follicles, overproduction of oil, and bacterial overgrowth.
• Symptoms: Pimples, blackheads, whiteheads are the marks on skin.

SKIN INFLAMMATION CAUSE AT MOLECULAR LEVEL:

 Skin inflammation occurs at the molecular level as a complex cascade of events including different kinds of cells, signaling molecules and immune responses. 

“At the tissue level, there are varying degrees of accumulation of normal white blood cells which are responsible for immunity against infections.” - Dr. Ravi Ratnavel (Dermatologist in UK)

Simplified overview of the molecular reason is:

TRIGGERING: Skin inflammation can be triggered by various factors such as microbes (bacteria, fungi), irritants, allergens or physical injuries. 

IMMUNITY: After exposure to these foreign entities, immune cells, particularly white blood cells, including neutrophils and macrophages migrate to the infected area. They release signaling molecules known as cytokines.

CYTOKINES: Cytokines are the main inflammatory proteins responsible for the communication between immune cells to induce the process of skin inflammation. 

VASODILATION: Cytokines allow more blood cells and fluid to flow at the site of infection by dilating and increasing the permeability of the blood vessels. This results in swelling, puffiness and redness in that area.

TISSUE DAMAGE AND REPAIR: Inflammation is a double-edged sword. Prolonged and excessive inflammation can cause tissue damage. Over time, the body initiates the repair process to heal the damaged area.

The specific molecular pathways and scenarios vary depending on the type of skin condition. In psoriasis, the immune system mistakenly targets the healthy cells and promotes inflammation.

SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC SKIN

INFLAMMATION: The symptoms of acute and chronic inflammation are:

ACUTE INFLAMMATION: Common symptoms include:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Heat
• Pain
• Itching
• Skin lesions or rash
• Loss of function in the affected area

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION: Common symptoms in chronic skin inflammation includes:

• Persistent redness
• Dryness
• Scaling
• Thickening of the skin
• Pain and discomfort
• Itching
• Irritation

Prevention is always better than cure. Avoiding known triggers, lifestyle choices, and healthy diets can prevent you from such conditions. Here are some of the tips you can imply for better results.

• Gentle skincare routine
• Sun protection
• Healthy diet
• Proper wound care
• Stress management
• Avoid smoking
• Limit alcohol
• Regular dermatologist visits

Feel free to leave a comment below if you need personalized skincare recommendations or have any questions. Our team of experts is here to help you on your path to healthier, radiant skin. Your skin is worth the best care, so let's work together to achieve it!