The Role of Chronic Inflammation in Aging and Disease

In recent years, science has focused a growing amount of research to the role of chronic inflammation in diseases such as Alzheimer's, Cancer, Heart Disease, and other chronic diseases. This research has yielded an amazing amount of information on how inflammation may be the root cause of these diseases and of accelerated aging. We now know that women suffer from inflammation and related disorders more during menopause than at any other time in their life, and all signs point to hormones as the cause. We also know that inflammation related to hormonal imbalances may be the cause of 75% of women's auto-immune diseases. With this wealth of new information, doctors and pharmaceutical companies are adjusting their treatments and drug research to focus on ways to not only control, but eliminate root causes of excessive inflammation in our bodies. Additionally, more attention is being paid to the role of skin care and ingredients in controlling and counter-acting common inflammatory responses in the skin.

One of the most common inflammatory disorders of the skin is Rosacea. Characterized by red, inflamed skin, Rosacea is one of the most frustrating skin conditions aestheticians are confronted with. Acne is another common inflammatory disorder of the skin. These conditions manifest obvious symptoms, and although chronic in some cases, they are treatable and controllable. However, a less obvious but much more widespread effect of chronic inflammation is accelerated aging, wrinkled, sagging skin that seems to age no matter what products or precautions we take. This is perhaps the number one way in which inflammation manifests itself in our bodies, by using our skin as a red flag, warning us that something is not right.