Inflammaging: The Silent Saboteur That’s Secretly Aging You (And How to Fight It)

Dr Victoria Manning
3 minutes ago
3 min read

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt like you’re aging faster than you should be? You’re doing all the right things—or so you think—but new lines seem to appear overnight, your skin lacks that youthful bounce, and you just look… tired. If this sounds familiar, you might be dealing with a silent saboteur: inflammaging.

le most important factor in how well we age.

So, let’s break down what it is, why it’s suddenly everywhere, and what you can actually do about it.

What is Inflammaging?

The term “inflammaging” was first coined back in 2000 by longevity scientist Claudio Franceschi to describe the chronic, low-grade, invisible inflammation that builds up in our bodies over time . Think of it not as a raging fire, but as a slow, constant smoulder that never quite goes out.

As a recent article in Marie Claire highlighted, this constant state of alert causes our skin cells to release a cascade of stress signals, including enzymes like MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) . These enzymes are meant to break down old, damaged tissue, but in a state of chronic inflammation, they don’t distinguish between “bad” tissue and your healthy collagen and elastin. Over time, they simply eat away at your skin’s structural support, leading to sagging, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.

My Clinical Experience: The Pattern I Couldn’t Ignore

After two decades in aesthetic medicine and examining thousands of faces, I started to see a clear pattern. Some patients aged gracefully, their skin retaining its firmness and vitality. Others seemed to age in fast-forward, with rapid changes that didn’t always match their chronological years or even their lifestyle.

The common denominator? Their inflammatory status.

I realised that the most effective, natural-looking results didn’t come from just chasing lines with filler. They came from understanding and addressing the underlying inflammation that was driving the aging process in the first place. This is the core philosophy that inspired my book—we have to win the “inflammation game.”

The Hidden Accelerators of Inflammaging

While external factors like UV radiation and pollution are well-known culprits, they are only part of the story. From my clinical experience, the most powerful accelerators of inflammaging are often the ones we overlook.

Accelerator	How It Drives Inflammation
Chronic Stress	A demanding job, family pressures, and a never-ending to-do list keep your body in a low-grade “fight-or-flight” mode. This floods your system with cortisol, the stress hormone, which is profoundly inflammatory. The Global Wellness Summit has even named “Neurowellness” a top trend for 2026, acknowledging the critical link between a regulated nervous system and our overall health .
Hormonal Shifts	The hormonal rollercoaster of perimenopause and menopause is a major trigger for inflammaging. As estrogen, a natural anti-inflammatory, declines, the body’s inflammatory response can be dialed up, leading to skin changes, weight gain, and brain fog.
Lifestyle Factors	Lack of sleep, a diet high in processed foods and sugar, and insufficient physical activity all contribute to systemic inflammation that shows up on your face.

How to Fight the “Inflammation Fire”

The good news is that we have more control than we think. It’s not about a single miracle cream, but a holistic approach to calming the system from the inside out.

Adopt an Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle: This isn’t about perfection, but consistency. Prioritise sleep, incorporate gentle movement into your day, and fill your plate with colourful, antioxidant-rich foods. These simple acts send powerful signals to your body to switch off the inflammatory alarm.

Protect Your Skin Barrier: A healthy skin barrier is your first line of defence. Use gentle cleansers and look for skincare with barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide. And, of course, a broad-spectrum SPF is non-negotiable, every single day.

Test, Don’t Guess: The most powerful approach is a targeted one. It’s now possible to test your body’s inflammatory markers and fatty acid profile. This is a cornerstone of my practice—using evidence-based data to create a personalised plan to reduce inflammation, rather than just guessing what might work.

Inflammaging isn’t a life sentence. By understanding its drivers and taking a proactive, holistic approach, you can calm the smoulder, protect your collagen, and reclaim your skin’s vitality.

To learn more about the specific strategies I use with my patients to win the inflammation game, you can find all the details in my book, Busting the Code to Ageing.