Could using a good quality moisturizer on a daily basis help to lower markers of inflammation (proinflammatory markers) and actually help reduce anxiety, panic, PTSD, phobias, social anxiety and other mental health symptoms, plus other chronic health conditions at the same time? Based on a new pilot study, I’m going out on a limb and saying this may well pan out to be true. And there is certainly no harm in making this a daily self-care routine until further research confirms this, certainly because of the other benefits of using a moisturizer.
New study: a skin moisturizer reduces markers of inflammation
Let’s take a look at this new study which reports how using a skin moisturizer actually reduces markers of inflammation in the body: Topical Applications of an Emollient Reduce Circulating Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Levels in Chronically Aged Humans: A Pilot Clinical Study
Emollients are moisturizers that help keep the skin moist and supple by reducing water loss from the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin.
The study set out to mirror an animal study where skin problems in older/aged mice was tied to elevated markers of inflammation called cytokines. When epidermal function/skin health in the mice was improved, the circulating cytokine levels were reduced:
Thirty‐three aged humans were treated twice‐daily for 30 days, with ≈3 ml of an emollient, previously shown to improve epidermal [i.e. skin] function
Changes in epidermal function and levels of three key, age‐related, plasma cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNFα) were measured at baseline and after treatment.
Circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the body, IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNFα, were higher in the older adults before the use of the emollient. After topical use, i.e, using the cream on their skin twice a day for 30 days:
circulating levels of IL‐1β and IL‐6 normalized, while TNFα levels declined substantially.
The authors suggest larger clinical trials to confirm this connection between high levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chronic inflammatory disorders and to show how improving skin health by moisturizing may prevent chronic inflammatory disorders such as heart disease, type II diabetes, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease in older adults.
The University of California explains the mechanism:
Our skin starts to deteriorate around age 50 with changes to epidermal pH, hydration, and the permeability barrier, which keeps water in and bacteria and other potential pathogens out. A loss of moisture and breaks in the permeability barrier cause the skin to release inflammatory cytokines. Ordinarily, these cytokines help to repair defects in the barrier, but in aging skin the barrier can’t be fixed as easily, so the inflammatory signals continue to be released, eventually reaching the blood.
This article and the study authors are suggesting this is an issue to be addressed with older adults and with respect to the above chronic diseases, but there is enough research on the role of inflammation on anxiety and other mental health conditions at any age, that this study had me perk up and take notice. Also, if you’re young and not moisturizing or living in a dry climate or have other factors contributing to inflammation (more on that below), could this be happening too? I believe it’s highly likely.
The role of inflammation on anxiety and other mental health conditions
Here is one of the many anxiety-inflammation studies: Inflammation in Fear- and Anxiety-Based Disorders: PTSD, GAD, and Beyond, reporting that:
heightened concentrations of inflammatory signals, including cytokines and C-reactive protein, have been described in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), and phobias (agoraphobia, social phobia), etc.
And concludes that:
targeting inflammation may serve as a potential therapeutic target for treating these fear- and anxiety-based disorders in the future
Inflammation plays a role in depression too. This paper, Role of Inflammation in Depression and Treatment Implications reports that:
Numerous studies (including meta-analyses) have found elevated peripheral and central inflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins in depression.
The ongoing inflammation affects neurotransmitters and makes antidepressants less effective:
Chronic exposure to increased inflammation is thought to drive changes in neurotransmitters and neurocircuits that lead to depressive symptoms and that may also interfere with or circumvent the efficacy of antidepressants.
Many approaches for reducing cytokines and inflammation
I do want to address the one statement in the emollient study where they say that “approaches that reduce circulating cytokines are not yet available.” There are, in fact, many approaches for reducing cytokines and inflammation.
In one study vitamin D supplementation improved mood, reduced anxiety and lowered markers of inflammation (CRP and IL-10) in female diabetics who had low levels of vitamin D.
In another study looking at anxiety in women with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), probiotics and selenium improved their mental health and hormonal profiles, lowered markers of inflammation and reduced oxidative stress.
This paper lists a number of underling root causes that cause systemic inflammation and depression: psychosocial or life stressors, poor diet, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, altered gut permeability (i.e. leaky gut), atopy (a genetic tendency to allergies – this could include gluten sensitivity), poor dental health, sleep issues and vitamin D deficiency.
Of course, these factors may also play a role in anxiety and using a functional medicine and nutritional approach, you can reduce the inflammation and eliminate the anxiety/depression. It’s a matter of finding your root cause/s and addressing them.
Research is also finding that GABA, one of the main calming neurotransmitters, may also have a possible role in “neuroimmune interaction, being involved in the modulation of immune cell activity associated with different systemic and enteric inflammatory conditions.”
Low zinc and low vitamin B6 are also factors in inflammation, and addressing low levels reduces inflammation and eases anxiety such as pyroluria (a social anxiety condition) and low GABA and low serotonin anxiety because zinc and vitamin B6 are co-factors for making these brain chemicals.
The benefit of touch and a boost of oxytocin
I’d like to mention other benefits of using a daily moisturizer – the benefits of touch, massage and a boost of oxytocin:
- Hand massage and therapeutic touch has been shown to decrease anxiety and make the elderly in a nursing home feel more comforted. If you’re a caregiver to a parent, make daily moisturizing part of your routine.
- Swedish massage reduces anxiety in ICU patients and improves vital signs.
- Touch increases the release of oxytocin improving well-being and may also have “applications in neuropsychiatric disorders especially those characterized by persistent fear, repetitive behavior, reduced trust and avoidance of social interactions.”
Adding skin moisturizing to your daily self-care routine
I feel very comfortable saying you now we have a new tool – daily skin moisturizing – to add to your toolbox to help lower your markers of inflammation and reduce anxiety, panic, PTSD, phobias and social anxiety. Let’s use everything at your disposal to heal and feel your absolute best.
It’s something most women (and a few men) are already doing, and this information can give you more reason to continue to do it.
It’s a lovely self-care routine if you’ve not been doing it for some time or have never regularly used a moisturizer. This information can be an incentive to add it back to your daily routine or start doing it.
The biggest problem I see with moisturizing is using toxic chemicals and less than ideal creams on your skin so I reached out to colleagues and my community on Facebook to get input on their favorite home-made and store-bought moisturizers:
- Here are the DIY recipes: DIY moisturizer recipes to lower inflammation and reduce anxiety, panic, PTSD, phobias and social anxiety?
- Stay tuned for a new blog on favorite good quality store-bought moisturizers
In the meanwhile, feel free to share your favorites and what your moisturizing self-care routine is like, and if you get regular massages and use moisturizing creams with love ones. Simply comment below.
Ingredients of the moisturizer used in the trial:
Glycerin, Vitis vinifera (Grape) seed oil, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil, Olea europaea (Olive) fruit oil, Portulaca oleracea extract, Phytosterols, Sodium hyaluronate, Arginine, Tocopheryl acetate, Myristoyl/palmitoyl oxostearamide/arachamide MEA
I’d suspect just Jojoba oil in it’s own would work as well. It’s what I use as a mosturizer
It’s only a pilot study and it looks like there was no actual intervention in the control group – e.g. massage, so the actual ‘massage’ or ‘touch’ component of the treatment my also be part of the effect
No wonder I always feel amazing after my Joovv red/infrared light therapy session and applying full body moisturiser. Your lovely blog post would explain it! I make my own blend using this product linked below to which I add a blend of cardamom, vetiver and neroli essential oil, pure bliss:
https://www.nealsyardremedies.com/aromatherapy/create-your-own/create-your-own-range/5101.html
Drew
I love that you make your own blend and that it creates pure bliss! Neal’s Yard Remedies look like a lovely company. I love that they hold classes on so many health-related topics.
I’m curious about this product and if you know if it’s gluten-free? If yes they should really say that on the site/product label. Also it’s the first moisturizer I’ve seen that has soy oil as a major ingredient and although EWG Skindeep rates it a 1 (https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702679/GLYCINE_SOJA_%28SOYBEAN%29_OIL/) I’d be cautious about soy allergies and would want to know if it’s cold-pressed. I’d also want to know if the sunflower oil is cold-pressed, free of solvents and pesticides (https://fsi.colostate.edu/sunflower-seeds-draft/). EWG rates potassium sorbate a 3 (https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705225/POTASSIUM_SORBATE/) and some folks are allergic to it. I personally love it when companies have a good FAQ page explaining each ingredient – why it’s used, why it’s a good choice and what to be aware of.
Thanks for your informative input Trudy. I wrote to Neals Yard Remedies and this was their response:
Dear Drew
I can confirm that the product is gluten free.
With regards your question about our oils, I have found the following information:
The Sunflower used in the majority of our products is the “standard” high Oleic acid type (around 70% Oleic acid content) The Sunflower used in our baby products (since the 2016 reformulation) is a high Linoleic version (approx. 50 – 70% Linoleic acid content) Both oils are cold pressed, organic certified, no solvents involved in their manufacture.
Most of our oils are cold pressed, but not all. Not all oils can be viably produced using this process, & other methods, such as CO2 extraction & expeller pressing are also used.
Our non-organic Grapeseed & Wheatgerm oils are expeller pressed (pressed under high pressure). Chemical solvents are not used in the production of any of our vegetable oils.
The product is soil association certified as organic and as such cannot be subjected to pesticides.
I hope this helps.
Regards
Nicola Dimmer
Customer Care Co ordinator
advice@nealsyardremedies.com
T: 01747 834 634
Neal’s Yard Remedies
Natural Organic Health & Beauty
Peacemarsh, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4EU
nealsyardremedies.com
Drew
What a great response from the company. As I mentioned I really love it when information like this is listed on the FAQs or ingredients page on the company site but when it is isn’t, contacting them directly is the next best thing. They didn’t say anything about soy allergies or potassium sorbate?
Just like with diet and nutrients there is no one-size fits all so the important thing is finding something that works for your skin and it seems you have.
Yes, they didn’t mention soy allergies or potassium sorbate!
Neal’s Yard Remedies is great, I source a lot of products from them and essential oils too. Their Focus, Meditation, Organic Defense and Woman’s Balance EO blends are lovely. I also get all my herbal teas from them, i.e.:
Dandelion Dried Herb
Burdock Leaf Dried Herb
Burdock Root Dried Herb
Yellow Dock Root Dried Herb
Milk Thistle Dried Herb
Skullcap Dried Herb
Pau D’Arco Dried Herb
Ginkgo Dried Herb
Vervain Dried Herb
Lemon Balm Dried Herb
I’d love to visit their factory in Devon one day!
http://www.bloomremedies.co.uk in Cornwall is also a firm favourite of mine with gorgeous products and Marie the founder is a gem. Their sleep mist is wonderful for lightly spraying on bed clothes at bed time.
And finally http://www.nhrorganicoils.com is great too for pure essential oils.
I’ve used both organic, cold pressed coconut oil or avocado oil on my face for years. I love pure Shea butter as a body cream scented with jasmine or lavender essential oil.
Cibele
Lovely – thanks for sharing. I’ve been hearing that coconut oil may be disruptive of the skin microbiome and can be drying in some folks – have you noticed this?
Yes, I thought I was crazy, finding coconut oil drying but no one else mentioning it. As to the previous post re: Richard’s Yard soy oils being organic, I wonder if they are also non-gmo. The organic label doesn’t rule that out.
I would like to know how much of ones body needs to be moisturised., and if it is also necessary to be done twice per day. Such a simple but effective way to help with anxiety. Will be slathering a lot more in the future! I have Sjogren’s so everything is dry, skin, mouth, eyes, hair. I have been trying to keep my face much “moister” and I am sure my wrinkles have lessened. I find rice bran oil is also quite good.
Noelle
In the study it was done twice a day. I’m not sure how much of the body needs to be moisturized but if everything is dry I’d want to moisturize as much as possible. Keep in mind that in this study they didn’t measure anxiety levels. I’m simply extrapolating based on the inflammation connection.
I’m sure you’re aware that anxiety/depression is very common in Sjogren’s. In one study they “found 33.8% patients with anxiety, and 36.9% had depression, which were significantly higher than controls” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5956972/ I use the amino acids and other nutrients to help my clients ease their anxiety. Here is a blog post on using GABA for physical tension and anxiety https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/gaba-physical-tension-stiff-tense-muscles-type-anxiety/
Since Sjogren’s is an autoimmune condition, following an AIP diet and using other functional medicine approaches are key too. Here are two books by Dr. Izabella Wentz https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/hashimotos-protocol-izabella-wentz/ and https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/hashimotos-food-pharmacology-a-new-recipe-book-by-dr-izabella-wentz/ (both on Hashimoto’s but applicable to any autoimmune condition)
Any suggestions for USA based healing moisturizers? What about Arbonnne? EveryOne? Others? Thanks!
Jen
This blog has recipes for DIY moisturizers https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/diy-moisturizer-recipes-to-lower-inflammation-and-reduce-anxiety-panic-ptsd-phobias-and-social-anxiety/ and next week I’ll be covering ready-made products you can purchase. I’ll be writing about what questions to ask then purchasing read-made products too. For now …. I will be sharing more about Annmarie Gianni Skincare – here are their moisturizers https://www.annmariegianni.com/moisturizers/trudyscott
EveryOne is new to me and I’ll check them out. As far as Arbonne, this post by Meghan Telpner is excellent https://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/arbonne-pure-safe-cosmetics/
Have you shared your opinion of fragrance in creams and lotions? I follow a dermatologist on YouTube who advises we avoid fragrance. I’m another woman with Sjogren’s and it causes many difficulties for me, so I’m a seeker of the best information I can find and feel comfortable with. Thank you for your endeavors to help people with autoimmune conditions.
Daphne
Yes I am very much against fragrances in lotions other than essential oils. I share some homemade lotions here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/diy-moisturizer-recipes-to-lower-inflammation-and-reduce-anxiety-panic-ptsd-phobias-and-social-anxiety/ and this blog on Sjogren’s https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/sjogrens-syndrome-tryptophan-and-gaba-for-anxiety-and-moisturizing-for-dry-skin-and-inflammation/
What creams and lotions do you use?
Thank you! Right now I am overloaded with creams and lotions and perhaps not all of them are the best for me to use. I use numerous CeraVe products, Eucerin lotion, Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment, Victoria Principal Reclaim creams, Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel-cream, and Kiehl’s. That’s most of them! I need to be more diligent, though.
Daphne
I’d suggest checking out individual ingredients and products on EWG skindeep https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/. Take for example CeraVe which has products from 1-7 with 10 being worst https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/search.php?query=CeraVe&h=Search. Neutrogena products score 1-10 https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/search.php?query=Neutrogena. I also check for gluten-free as this is problematic with autoimmune conditions.
I will read these. Thank you.
Great blog and research topic. The simple things are so underestimated! I openly admit I’m a dedicated life-time Ayurvedic student so that makes me bias perhaps. Copious daily application of plain oils and medicated oil (oils infused with herbs generally) have been part of a reccommended balanced daily routine in Ayurveda for several thousand years. It is particularly encouraged in any conditions related to the nervous system! 🙂 Always cool to see Western science highlighting ancient wisdom to make it relevant to more people today. Thanks for sharing . <3
Lauren
Thanks for your kind words and yes sometimes it takes time for Western science to catch up with ancient wisdom! This Ayurvedic practice deserves an entire blog post for those who are not familiar with it.
May I ask what you mean by plain oils? Something like the sesame oil that is typically used?
Yes. Sorry I was not particularly clear 🙂
Sesame, Almond, Coconut, even ghee. I would highly suspect that there were other ones used as well. Having been to an Ayurvedic Hospital once in India that was still very traditional, I was made aware of how many medicines and treatment protocols have been lost or sometimes just don’t make it to N.America and other countries.
It definitely would make an excellent blog Trudy! I”m sure many could be made! 🙂
If you need some reputable Ayurvedic practitioners or physicians and teachers for resources, I certainly could email you the name of a couple in the U.S. and one or two in India.
Thanks for sharing your passion.
4 1/2 years recovering from acute mercury toxicity – which goes along with all the other toxic metals that it invites in, EMF sensitivities and all the mineral / vitamin deficiencies. I am now down to clearing out the candida which it in itself is giving me a run for my money! Slathering myself with coconut oil every night in all areas including vaginal as I am having recurring candida breakouts on the labia. I do indeed find the the ritual of moisturizing very calming. Per the post above – I do not find for myself that the coconut oil is drying – maybe because of the candida? I am finding the coconut oil slowly clearing up some other issues of skin conditions . I also am using it for oil swishing. I switched from sesame seed oil to coconut oil for oil swishing to help clear up the candida and I understand that coconut oil may have a better chance of crossing the BBB in this way?
Hi Laura, I’m not sure if you were referring to the post I left above and asking me personally. I don’t communicate on blogs much so I’m not sure of the proper etiquette. I hope if you were addressing me this is helpful. In Ayurveda all oils are moisturizing, none are drying. Coconut oil is considered cooling, which is great for summer and people that have a lot of inflammation or pitta dominated conditions in Ayurvedic terms. There are chemical components extracted from coconut oil that are inherently anti-fungal too.
I think Trudy or someone else could better speak to if and how components of Coconut oil can cross the BBB. There is a lot of talk about that so I understand what you are saying. Good luck to you! There is so much more out there for you to heal with and you sound like a pro-active woman. You can do it! 🙂
There is a dermatological site that published a study on the pH of coconut oil as not being a good lubricant. I use it daily, have psoriasis and was muscle tested that my impression was accurate. My skin loves it.
Judy
I have had mixed reports about topical coconut oil so it’s best to see what works for each person. Glad it works well for you
Bruce Fife has written many books about coconut oil, and may be a good resource for these kind of questions. Wonderful blog!
Having read all of the comments and the post above, I would like to make the following suggestions:
1. Avoid non saturated oils, they turn rancid very quickly.
2. Heal the dry skin issues internally. I use a coffee grinder to grind flax and black chia seeds, 3 tablespoons of each and add it to a drink that make every day. This prevents the oils in the seeds from becoming rancid, since I drink them down right away.
I used to struggle with candida and still may struggle with thyroid issues, but the knuckles on my hands used to turn red and my hands were always dry and nothing that I put on them helped. Having more knowledge now, I would recommend coconut oil or ghee, since they are all saturated oils and not subject to turning rancid.
Dean, do you mean that taking chia seeds (freshly ground) 3 tbs and flax seeds ditto, in a drink each day helped you to get rid of candida? I had got rid of candida, but then going to have a colonoscopy caused the dratted stuff to resurface for whatever reason and it has been awful since though I haven’t eaten more than 20 g carbs in a day.
If these helped hypothyroid too, I’d be very interested to hear it!
Jenny, I have to apologize, but I have lost track of everything that I have done to get rid of candida. All I know is that I went through this huge healing crisis, I had a pain in my left shoulder that I don’t know where it came from, I had a skin infection that lasted almost a year and finally went away. After it was all done, the coating on my tongue was gone. I am not totally out of the woods yet, but it has been pretty amazing. It could be that is what did it. I get the chia seeds and the flax in bulk from a local coop, so it’s pretty cheap.
Jenny, with regard to hypothyroid, Dr. David Brownstein has written books about Iodine and this condition, and also has a terrific website with access to articles. I use two drops of Lugol’s Solution in water once a day to raise my Iodine levels. Also I have recently encountered the books of Anthony William, the medical medium, who has many controversial ideas, and he has written a book about balancing the Thyroid. Good wishes,
Thanks Dean – most kind of you to reply.
Thanks too to Anne R – that is interesting, you are about the sixth person in the last week to suggest I read him – it seems I must read him, I’ve never had that many recommendations in one week in my life!
I too love Dr Brownstein, and on the subject of Iodine (and a few others) I would listen to him before anyone else, and I do take Iodine daily.
As my doctors caused me to have atrocious IBS daily 6 – 10 times a day for DECADES (and then ignored what they had done, with so many horrible results such as hypothyroid), and I have only just managed to work out what they did when and to counter it, I wasn’t able to take Selenium for many years as it made the 6 – 10 times a day more like 12! However, (and I am including this bit for a good reason!) I was able to alter that, to my surprise, by doing Donna Eden’s version of EFT tapping (from the temporal bone round the ear to the nape of the neck), both sides with slightly different statements, daily, remembering to do the ‘crossover pull’ first – details online or in her books. I was experimenting with no expectation of success, as I had failed with EFT before – but her method was different. Then, to my disbelief and joy after suffering for decades with the Selenium problem, I was able to reprogram my body so it didn’t react that way to Selenium in just a few months, and I can now take the Selenium daily which is essential to let the Iodine work – hooray!!
Dean
Thanks for sharing these valuable tips – I’d use them in conjunction with external moisturization. One caution I’d make is the use of chia seeds when someone has oxalate issues as this can increase pain and inflammation
Thanks, Trudy, I was not aware that was an issue. I had heard that lectins were the issue, but just about everything that is vegetable has lectins.
Trudy, did I miss it, or was there no mention of a control in this experiment with the moisturiser? Concluding that moisturisers produced all the benefits without having a control group who had exactly the same massage but without the emolients seems a bit foolish. Not only does touch matter enormously to people and animals, but then there are all the numerous massage/acupressure/acupuncture points stimulated by the touch too – and thousands of years of history of their use to back them up .
I remember about 10 – 20 years ago people analysing customers’ views of supermarkets in the UK – and their opinion of the supermarket increased enormously if one thing happened…. if the hand of the person on the checkout touched the hand of the person they were giving the receipt/change to. It wasn’t a touch that any of the participants consciously noticed – just the outside of a little finger grazing lightly on the hand of the other for the tiniest fraction of a second – but it mattered beyond anything one would have thought before the observations.
Touch matters to us all.
Jenny
Based on the study “untreated, aged humans and a cohort of young volunteers served as controls” but I agree with you on the tremendous value of touch, massage, acupressure and acupuncture.
I had not heard about the supermarket story – so interesting!
Good points, Jenny. From the Abstract the controls were young volunteers and aged subjects who didn’t receive the treatment. Nothing about whether they received massage/stroking of some kind. Very good point about how much touch matters though in this case I imagine people applied the moisturizer to themselves which is different than the touch of another person.
Does it matter what type of moisturizer? There are a wide range out there.
Christine
No as long as it’s non-toxic and reducing the dryness and hence the inflammation
The MedicalXpress article states that the formulation was “previously shown to contribute to skin repair based on its beneficial ratio of three types of lipids (cholesterol, free fatty acids, and ceramides) that are vital for skin health.” I am wondering whether any oil or cream will be as effective. Maybe we can test our own cytokines to see.
Thank you, Trudy, for your great blog posts about this. Definitely a “might help/can’t hurt” treatment opportunity!