Is Inflammation Aging Your Skin? Inflammaging

The Quiet Inflammation That's Speeding Up Skin Aging-- some call 'Inflammaging'. By now many have heard how inflammation plays a role in things like heart issues or joint pain. Well, in skin health, there's something similar called inflammaging—and it's getting a lot of attention from dermatologists right now. It's a low-level, ongoing inflammation that slowly builds up as we age, even when there's no injury or infection. Your skin often notices it first. If your face has started looking duller, feeling drier, showing more fine lines, or taking longer to heal from little nicks—even with the same routine you've always used—inflammaging could be why.

What's Going On Inside? As we get older, our immune system keeps releasing small amounts of inflammatory signals (things like IL-6 and TNF-alpha) all the time. These help in short bursts, but when they're constant, they break down collagen and elastin—the stuff that keeps skin firm and springy. They also weaken your skin's protective barrier (so more moisture escapes), slow cell renewal, and make healing harder. Over time, skin looks tired, thinner, and more fragile. That's aging showing up faster on your face.

Why It Often Feels Worse in Midlife?  There are a lot of changes seemingly occuring all at once: hormone changes (like perimenopause or andropause), higher stress, spotty sleep, and busier lives. All of that ramps up inflammation throughout the body. Stress hormone cortisol hits skin hard—it speeds collagen loss and weakens the barrier. So even if your skincare hasn't changed, your skin can suddenly behave differently. It's showing what's happening inside. Your Skin Shows Your Whole-Body Health, a window to your soul!  Skin isn't separate—it's connected to your gut, brain, stress, sleep, and diet. We call it the gut-brain-skin connection, and it's real.

Weeks of stress and Poor sleep? Increased oil production, redness, breakouts and Dry, flaky spots that stick around. Fixing things from the inside almost always helps skin more than creams alone. 

Constant Stress ages skin, remember:
High cortisol destroys collagen fast.

Four Habits That Make It Worse—and Simple Ways to Fix Them:
Try this: 

      1. Add 5 minutes of deep breathing, a quick walk, or gentle yoga every day. It builds up.

      2. Not Enough Good Sleep
          Skin repairs itself overnight. Skip too much and it falls behind.
          Try this: Aim for 7–8 hours. Create a calm bedtime routine—no scrolling on your phone.

      3. Too Much Sugar and Processed Food
          Sugar "caramelizes" collagen (called glycation), making it stiff and brittle.
          Try this: Eat more real food—colorful veggies, berries, nuts, olive oil, salmon. Think "eat the rainbow."

      4. Sitting All Day
          Poor circulation means fewer nutrients get to your skin.
          Try this: Move more—walk during calls, stretch, or lift weights a couple times a week. Your mood and               skin improve too.

NOTE: Eating for Calmer, Healthier Skin....No strict rules or deprivation needed. Just lean toward foods that fight inflammation:

• Colorful stuff: berries, spinach, broccoli, peppers (loaded with antioxidants).  
• Omega-3s: salmon, sardines, walnuts, flaxseeds (they calm things down).  
• Slower carbs: quinoa, lentils, sweet potatoes instead of white bread or sweets.  
• Good fats: avocado, olive oil (great for the skin barrier).  
• Stay hydrated + vitamin C: water all day, plus oranges, strawberries, kiwi for collagen support.

See it as nourishing fuel for strong skin, not a short-term diet. Lifestyle + Professional Care = Best Results! Creams, retinoids, peptides, and treatments work well—but they do even better when your body isn't in constant "inflammation mode." Get the basics right inside, and you often need less heavy-duty help. Omega-3 supplements can fill gaps, but food versions absorb better. 

Make an appointment with either Dr. Toula Berti or Dr. Jeffrey Berti at Nashville Dermatology Physicians in Brentwood, TN, to tailor a plan for your skin type and life stage. In the end, having more information behind what is aging us is powerful knowledge, we can add the topical products or laser treatments and you will look and feel your very best. It is MORE than just aging with better skin, we're helping your skin stay strong, protective, looking its best, as well as providing you a healthier inside! When your skin glows, it usually means the rest of you feels good too. That's the real win—vibrant on the outside because you're supported on the inside, with real science behind it.

*Nashville Dermatology Physicians serves all of Middle Tennessee, located at 1001 Health Park Dr., Ste 470, Brentwood, TN

*Contact us: 615-212-2517