Inflammation of the skin, or skinflammation as its endearingly referred to as by the skincare community at large, is a stubbornly persistent, oftentimes nebulous nut to crack. It’s sudden and unwelcome appearance is seemingly spurred on by any number of mundane things such as your daily cleanse or a particular cream or lotion, however its direct cause can be harder to pinpoint.

A method of elimination can help you get to the bottom of the cause, though if you’ve exhausted all possible culprits and inflammation persists, you may be dealing with environmental factors. Hard water, high in minerals, is one such environmental factor, which is particularly prevalent is WA, SA & QLD. Consistently exposing the skin to hard water can lead to a blocking of the pores and a disruption of normal skin function which in turn can lead to a greater chance of exacerbated skin conditions.

The solution to skin inflammation may lie in the topical treatments we employ in our daily skincare routine with focus on a ‘less is more’ approach. Piling on unnecessary lotions is a recipe for disaster for skinflammation sufferers, same goes for exfoliation heavy regimens which can further aggravate skin inflammation.

The below is a list of common anti-inflammatory skincare ingredients which can be used to combat inflammation.

Along with its hydrating properties, aloe vera is a powerful anti-inflammatory able to soothe the skin with a cocktail of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that will also promote healing. As a humectant, aloe vera will assist the repair of the skin barrier and help the dermis retain moisture.

Oats are often touted as a great ingestible antioxidant with anti-inflammatory benefits, and the same can be said for oat extract applied topically. Oat extract when applied to the skin forms a protective barrier that helps retain skin moisture and ease inflammation.

Liquorice root extract contains a powerful antioxidant in glabridin which when applied topically can reduce ithiness, irritation and redness. Glabridin can also reduce UVB induced pigmentation and treat conditions such as melasma.

The application of chamomile infused skincare provides a dose of much needed soothing antioxidants to the skins surface. The compound apigenin which is abundant in chamomile has proven an effective treatment for red skin and soreness.

Niacinamide is found in most topical skincare treatments these days. Close to a cure-all, niacinamide can be used for a host of different skin conditions ranging from hyperpigmentation to acne. Applied topically, niacinamide is also great for keeping the skin healthy and moisturized when used in conjunction with a moisturiser. One of the major benefits of niacinamide is its suitability for most skin types with low irritation risk.