How Does Inflammation Accelerate Aging?
Over-activity of such pathways, including NF-KB, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 among many others, changes the normal balance of natural skin defense mechanisms, inducing:
- Decreased natural skin surface defense against pathogens
- Diminished healing capacity of damaged skin
- Overall increase in inflammation, resulting in excess production of dangerous free radicals
This increased inflammation, present for prolonged periods of time, manifests as visible signs of premature aging, including:
- Redness of skin
- Sensitivity to touch
- Excess warmth
What Happens over Time?
Over time, un-addressed inflammation-induced loss of skin elasticity may progress to features similar to those in free-radical induced skin damage, including:
- Dryness and brittleness of skin, marked initially by an uneven texture and tone and progressing to breaks or a cracked appearance
- Progression to fine lines, then to moderate and even deeper wrinkles
- Decrease in skin firmness, driven by activation of collagen-degrading inflammatory pathways and enzymes