How Inflammation Speeds Up the Aging Process — And What You Can Do About It

Written By Jo S.

Clemens Face + Body | Brookline, Boston

Aging is a natural part of life, but the way we age—especially when it comes to our skin—isn’t just determined by genetics. A lesser-known, but powerful culprit behind accelerated aging is chronic inflammation. While short-term inflammation is your body’s protective response to injury or infection, long-term inflammation can quietly degrade skin quality, break down collagen, and speed up visible signs of aging.

At Clemens Face + Body, located in Coolidge Corner, Brookline, we see firsthand how reducing inflammation can dramatically improve skin tone, texture, and radiance. Let’s dive into how inflammation ages your skin—and how we can help reverse the process with advanced treatments like collagen stimulators, neuromodulators, and our signature microneedling with salmon DNA.

How Chronic Inflammation Affects Your Skin

Inflammation in the skin can be triggered by many things—UV exposure, pollution, harsh skincare products, poor diet, stress, or even repeated microtraumas. While your skin may appear fine on the surface, chronic low-level inflammation (sometimes called “inflammaging”) chips away at your skin’s integrity over time.

Key effects of chronic inflammation on aging skin:

  • Collagen Breakdown: Inflammation triggers enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, leading to sagging and wrinkles.

  • Impaired Barrier Function: Inflammation can compromise your skin’s protective barrier, resulting in dryness, irritation, and redness.

  • Delayed Wound Healing: Chronically inflamed skin heals more slowly, making blemishes, acne scars, and sun damage harder to fade.

  • Poor Texture and Dullness: Over time, inflammation leads to uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, and a lackluster complexion.

Treatments That Reduce Inflammation and Rebuild Healthy Skin

If inflammation is accelerating your skin’s aging, the key is to calm the skin while stimulating natural regeneration. At Clemens Face + Body, we focus on skin treatments that do both: reduce inflammatory triggers and encourage long-term collagen rebuilding.

1. Collagen Stimulators (Sculptra + Radiesse)

Unlike traditional fillers that add immediate volume, collagen stimulators like Sculptra and Radiesse work gradually by prompting your body to rebuild its own collagen. As the skin rebuilds itself, it becomes thicker, smoother, and more resilient to inflammatory damage.

Benefits:

  • Long-term volume restoration

  • Improves firmness and elasticity

  • Reduces fine lines and crepey texture

  • Strengthens the skin’s barrier to better resist inflammation

2. Neuromodulators to Reduce Dynamic Wrinkles and Inflammatory Triggers

While commonly used to soften forehead lines and crow’s feet, neuromodulators (like the brands we use at Clemens Face + Body) also help in another way: by reducing inflammation by calming down the inflammatory process, like facial flushing.

3. Microneedling with Salmon DNA (PDRN)

Our signature microneedling treatment, paired with salmon DNA (PDRN), is one of the most effective options for reversing inflammatory skin damage. Microneedling creates tiny micro-injuries that stimulate collagen and elastin production, while PDRN—a powerful regenerative compound derived from salmon DNA—calms inflammation, hydrates, and speeds up tissue repair.

Benefits:

  • Refines texture and minimizes pores

  • Calms redness and inflammation

  • Fades acne scars and hyperpigmentation

  • Restores a healthy skin glow

Supporting Skin Health from the Inside Out

Reducing inflammation doesn’t stop at treatments. We also guide our patients toward anti-inflammatory skincare routines, proper sun protection, and healthy lifestyle practices like reducing sugar intake, managing stress, and getting quality sleep. Combining these with professional treatments leads to dramatic and lasting results.

Ready to Calm Inflammation and Reclaim Your Glow?

If you’ve been dealing with dullness, redness, sensitivity, or signs of premature aging, it may be time to address inflammation at the root. At Clemens Face + Body in Brookline, Boston, we create customized treatment plans that blend innovation and intention—so your skin doesn’t just look better, it is better.

Book a consultation with us and begin your journey toward smoother, stronger, and calmer skin.

Explore our anti-inflammatory skin treatments → clemensfacebody.com/explore-skincare

Jo S.
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