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How do I spot inflammation in my client?
Well, first you have to know what you are looking for. And you can do this by having a deeper understanding of what inflammation is and how it is caused.
What is the first sign of inflammation?
Inflammation occurs at a biological level when there has been a trauma presented to the skin and the cells that make up the skin.
When we think of trauma, naturally we think of significant wounds like broken bones, gunshot wounds, or a really bad burn but cellularly, trauma brings a different meaning.
Cells can be exposed to potential in every day life without the slightest idea at surface level. Examples of these perpetrators are free radicals, harsh chemicals and poor air quality. These at a prolonged exposure without any type of intervention can contribute to inflammation, initiating the Inflammation Cascade.
There are two types of inflammation: Subclinical & Clinical.
Clinical Inflammation: This is inflammation that is at the surface and you can see with the naked eye.
Signs: Redness, Dilated Capillaries, Rosacea, Burning, Stinging, Itchiness
Subclinical Inflammation: This is inflammation that is below the surface, in which you can not see with the naked eye. You can assume that clinically inflamed skin is also sub-clinically inflamed.
Signs: Due to this condition being invisible during analysis, there are no visible signs.
Subclinical Inflammation is potentially more damaging, because you don't know to treat what you cannot see. More harm can be done through specific treatments (microdermabrasion, chemical peel, abrasive exfoliation). This can unintentionally lead you to treat the skin through a standard protocol that doesn't factor in the extra healing time needed.
As the professional, you walk a fine line, determining when the skin need to rest and repair rather than to be controllably injured again. It is extremely important to avoid chronically irritating the skin through constant stripping, overexposure in the sun, or harsh skin treatments.
How do I know if my client is suffering from Sub-clinical Inflammation?
Analyzing the skin is super important when treating any client, but it goes beyond just analyzing what you see. You need to have an insight to their lifestyle as well. You can do this simply through a questionnaire test. Have your client check off contributors to free radicals and see how high or low they score. This will give you a good idea as to how much exposure they're getting and how this could factor into their inflammation levels.
Typical sources of free radicals
Certain drugs and pesticides
Smoking (cigarettes and vaping)
Unhealthy diet
Sunlight (UV radiation)
Environmental pollutants
Jobs ( Restaurant, Factory, Outdoor labor)
Exercise (Moderate to Excess)
Stressors ( Mentally, Physically, Emotionally, Physiologically)
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The relationship between allergens and inflammation!
Watch the short video below to learn about how sneaky allergens can potentially interfere with treatment!