We often think of ageing as a purely chronological process, marked simply by the passing of years. However, modern science has identified an “invisible enemy” that accelerates this process from within our cells: inflammaging.
Although you can’t see it with the naked eye, this phenomenon is one of the main drivers of age-related functional decline and plays a decisive role in how the skin looks and feels.
What exactly is inflammaging?
The term inflammaging describes a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation that gradually develops as we grow older.
Unlike acute inflammation, the fast, red, painful response the body activates when you get a wound in order to heal, inflammaging is silent and persistent. It is characterised by a gradual increase in inflammatory factors, an imbalance in the immune system, and a prolonged “alarm” signalling that never fully switches off. This inflammatory “background noise” wears the body down from the inside, accelerating the decline of the tissues.
How does it affect the skin?
The skin, as the largest organ, is one of the places where this process becomes most evident. Current research indicates that the damage is not merely superficial, it occurs at a cellular level through complex mechanisms.
The role of senescent cells: over time and with exposure to environmental stressors, some skin cells stop dividing. However, instead of dying and being efficiently cleared by the body, they enter a state known as cellular senescence.
These cells, often referred to as “zombie cells”, are not harmless. They develop what scientists call the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP). This means they actively release toxic, pro-inflammatory substances that damage neighbouring healthy cells, degrade the extracellular matrix (collagen and elastin), and promote a chronically inflamed environment. This vicious cycle accelerates skin ageing and may contribute to the development of skin pathologies.
What triggers inflammaging?
Inflammaging is multifactorial, but scientific literature highlights three key “engines” that drive this damage:
- Oxidative stress. The free-radical theory suggests that cumulative oxidative damage is a major driver. Continuous oxidative stress induces inflammatory responses that, over time, compromise cellular structure.
- Telomere shortening. The cells have a limited number of divisions determined by telomeres (the protective ends of our DNA). When telomeres become too short, the cell detects genomic instability, enters senescence, and activates inflammatory alarms in an attempt to protect itself, paradoxically contributing to systemic inflammation.
- Internal imbalances and the microbiota. Skin health is closely connected to internal health. Recent studies have shown that the intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role. An imbalance in intestinal flora (dysbiosis) can directly influence inflammatory states throughout the body, including the skin, via the gut–skin axis. Improving metabolic and gut health is now considered a key strategy to help mitigate inflammaging.
Visible signs on the skin
When this low-grade inflammatory “slow burn” persists for years, the skin’s structure gradually weakens. The most common signs we see are:
- Sagging: due to the constant breakdown of collagen by inflammatory factors.
- Wrinkles: deeper and more pronounced because of reduced cellular regeneration.
- Loss of volume and firmness.
- Rough texture and dull tone: reflecting inefficient cell renewal and oxidative stress.
How can we treat inflammaging? new frontiers
Science is now exploring strategies not only to repair damage, but to modulate chronic inflammation. Based on the latest advances, we highlight two powerful actives:
SUCCINIC ACID: this active ingredient goes beyond an immediate effect. It helps regulate inflammatory processes and is essential for cellular energy. Its primary function is to protect mitochondria from oxidative damage, helping to slow the inflammatory cascade at its source. The visible result is skin that appears more even, soothed, and radiant.
EXOSOMES: exosomes represent the cutting edge of biotechnology applied to skin health. They are tiny vesicles that act as “messengers,” promoting repair signals and stimulating cell-to-cell communication that becomes disrupted with age.
- They act as powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents.
- They actively support the synthesis of new collagen and elastin, key to restoring lost firmness and elasticity.
Understanding inflammaging allows us to change the way we care for skin: it’s no longer only about treating surface wrinkles, but about addressing the silent inflammation that drives them.
Bibliographic references
The role of immunosenescence and inflammaging in aging-associated diseases. Revista Médica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, 62(5), e6025
Franceschi, C., Capri, M., Monti, D., Giunta, S., Olivieri, F., Sevini, F., Panourgia, M. P., Invidia, L., Celani, L., Scurti, M., Cevenini, E., Castellani, G. C., & Salvioli, S. (2007). Inflammaging and anti-inflammaging: A systemic perspective on aging and longevity emerged from studies in humans. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 128(1), 92–105.
Inflammation and aging: signaling pathways and intervention therapies. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 8(1), 239.
