The Anti- Inflammatory Guide
Everything you need to know to combat inflammation on the skin.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is a natural response of your body's immune system to injury or infection. It is a complex process that involves many different cells and chemicals.
The signs of inflammation are redness, swelling, pain, warmth, and loss of function. These signs occur when the body sends more blood and immune cells to the affected area. This helps to fight infection and repair damage.
Inflammation can be acute or chronic. Acute inflammation is a short-term response to injury or infection. It usually goes away on its own within a few days or weeks. Chronic inflammation is a long-term response to injury or infection. It can last for months or years and can damage tissues and organs.
There are many causes of inflammation, including:
Injury: Any type of injury, such as a cut, scrape, or burn, can cause inflammation.
Infection: Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can all cause inflammation.
Autoimmune diseases: In autoimmune diseases, the body's immune system attacks healthy tissue by mistake. This can cause inflammation.
Allergies: Allergies can also cause inflammation.
Some medications: Some medications, such as steroids, can cause inflammation.
Inflammation can be a good thing. It helps the body to fight infection and repair damage. However, chronic inflammation can be harmful. It can increase the risk of developing diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and arthritis.
How can you reduce inflammation?
Eat a healthy diet: A healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help to reduce inflammation.
Get regular exercise: Exercise can help to reduce inflammation. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
Manage stress: Stress can contribute to inflammation. Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as yoga, meditation, or spending time in nature.
Get enough sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential for good health and can help to reduce inflammation.
Quit smoking: Smoking damages the body's cells and tissues, which can lead to inflammation.
Lose weight: If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can help to reduce inflammation.
More about food...
Get enough fiber. Fiber can help to reduce inflammation. Good sources of fiber include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
Get enough omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish, flaxseed oil, and walnuts.
Avoid processed foods. Processed foods are often high in unhealthy fats, sugar, and salt. These ingredients can promote inflammation.
Many skin conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, & eczema are an outcome of systemic inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are also characterized by chronic inflammation. Check out the items below that worsen inflammation.
Did you know know what you do and how you do it can also worsen inflammation?
And, of course, the products you allow on your precious skin… be mindful.
How does coffee and tea affect inflammation...?
Check out this study we found published on Harvard’s website:
So, with that in mind our best recommendation for coffee and tea consumption in regards to inflammation and skincare: Go ahead and consume your coffee and tea but, choose high quality options. This is essentially the golden rule for everything. Do your thing just do it with care and quality in mind.
The Importance of Icing the Face
We strongly urge you to ice your face. It is so helpful and relieving to ice your face on a regular base for optimal skin health and appearance. You will instantly see the soothing results of face icing—reduced redness, swelling, & puffiness!
Regularly icing your face dramatically reduces inflamed areas, like acne & rosacea...
it soothes, relieves, and calms the skin.
Directions: take an ice cube and gently rub on the surface of your face or inflamed area on the skin for 30-40 seconds
Recommended to do as part of your daily routine after cleaning your face with Exfoliant & Shampoo
For those with intense inflammation we strongly recommend doing this at least twice a day
Even for those who don't have acne or inflammatory diseases icing your face regularly brightens your complexion, lessens under-eye bags, and reduces swelling, puffiness, & tenderness
Additionally, icing aids in allowing your skin to fully absorb products quickly & effectively
Finally, the easiest solution of all and that we stand behind 100%
Our Product Recommendations for Different Types of Inflammation
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:
These products are to be used in conjunction with your daily Miracle Routine for best results!
Our recommendations are broken down by the type of inflammation or inflammatory condition you’re facing.
for ACNE:
MSSR (Mother Strickland’s Skin Relief)
MSSR: In addition to using MSSR during your daily Miracle Routine also use it throughout the day for any spot treating.
Use 2% if you have occasional breakouts and normal or slightly oily.
Use 4% if you have regular breakouts and oily skin.
Fix Zit or Miracle Zit (spot treating)
Fix Zit or Miracle Zit: Use to treat and reduce "the big mothers"-- those deep pimples you can literally feel coming in and take a while to come to the surface. Apply directly on the spot right when you feel it coming. Recommended at night because it's a white product, or rock a white dot!
Use Fix Zit if you have more sensitive skin.
Use Miracle Zit if you do not have sensitive skin.
Biological Redefining Mask (weekly smoothing & soothing)
Biological Redefining Mask: Use 2-3x a week (more in the hot months, less in the colder) to make pores appear smaller and smoothen skin texture.
Our suggestions for specific inflammatory conditions based on our Founder, Barbara Strickland’s, experience as a licensed esthetician seeing and healing client’s skin for 50+ years.
for ROSACEA:
Soothing Gel (for the relief you deserve!)
Soothing Gel: Use over entire face to reduce redness after icing & right before applying moisturizer (we recommend the Gelloid Moisturizer & Mask!)
for PSORIASIS:
MSSR (Mother Strickland’s Skin Relief)
MSSR: Apply directly and liberally on affected areas as this is an anti-bacterial formula and also soothes irritation.
Use 2% for less severe & 4% for more severe.
Claw & Paw: use as a moisturizer on affected areas for relieving dry and cracking skin.
Note from President Melissa:
“It can go anywhere someone has super dry skin, face, body, hands and feet.
It’s actually great for the feet. I put it on my feet and a pair of socks and go nighty night. My feet are soft and supple when I get up. And I put it on my hand’s every night before bed as well.”
for ECZEMA:
Soothing Gel (because you deserve to be soothed)
Soothing Gel: apply to affected areas on face or body, allow it to soak into the skin's surface and then apply Claw & Paw to seal in moisture.
Heavenly Body Kit (exactly as it sounds…)
Heavenly Body Kit: use this body kit during your shower routine on a regular basis to alleviate symptoms.
That’s it folks, reach out directly for any questions about using our products to resolve your inflammation!
Email us at hello@sageskincare.com or call/text +1-636-625-0795
Inflammation is simply your body's innate reaction to fighting off attacks to it's immune system, like when you swell after bumping your knee or your skin scabs from a cut. It is characterized by redness and swelling, this can be acne or inflammatory conditions of the skin like psoriasis, eczema, or rosacea.
You’ve got this… don’t overwhelm yourself. Try with small changes like adding in a walk or 2x/week or a dance party whenever you’re feeling it. Cut back on fast and processed food and opt for whole foods. Of course, level up your skincare game by using our products designed for all kinds. Pick the Miracle Routine and products based on your skin type. Use at least once a day and watch your skin clear up and glow off!
Resolve your inflamed skin now!
The solution is this simple — 3 Steps:
Use Miracle Routine daily based on your skin type, not sure skin type? Take Skin Quiz!
Use products recommended per inflammation issue covered here
Follow this Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle Guide (more lifestyle tips & insights on our social media @sageskincareinc)
