Skinflammation: What Are You Putting On Your Skin?

Many people think carefully about what they eat—but far fewer stop to consider what they put on their bodies every day. Your skin is your largest organ and home to a rich ecosystem of microorganisms that make up the skin microbiome, a key part of your immune defense. From an integrative medicine perspective, protecting this barrier and preventing irritation or imbalance — sometimes called “skinflammation” — is just as important as supporting your internal systems.

You might not realize it, but the average person uses 6–12 personal and home care products daily, exposing the skin to dozens of ingredients that can cause irritation, endocrine disruption, or other health concerns. Some of these ingredients may even contribute to chronic skinflammation — persistent inflammation of the skin that shows up as redness, itching, dryness, or breakouts. Since ingredient labels can be full of complex chemical names or hidden terms like “fragrance,” it can be hard to know what’s safe.

Fortunately, several tools exist to help people screen products for potentially harmful chemicals before they buy.

Scan with Apps Like Yuka and Think Dirty
Apps such as Yuka and Think Dirty let you scan a product’s barcode with your phone to get an instant safety rating. They provide easy‑to‑understand scores based on ingredient databases and highlight substances that may be associated with irritation, endocrine disruption, or other health concerns. For example, Think Dirty currently lets users scan and receive detailed ingredient impact breakdowns across millions of products.

Use the EWG Skin Deep Database for Deeper Research
The EWG Skin Deep Database from the Environmental Working Group is one of the most comprehensive free resources available. You can search by ingredient, product name, or brand to see hazard ratings grounded in hundreds of scientific and regulatory data sources. Products that meet stricter criteria earn an EWG VERIFIED® status, meaning they’ve passed a transparent review process.

Why is this screening important? Research and expert dermatological reviews show that ingredients such as phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde‑releasing preservatives, and synthetic fragrances have been linked to hormonal disruption, allergenicity, or skin irritation — especially with frequent use.

From an integrative medicine standpoint, the goal is awareness and informed choice. Start with these tools to educate yourself, then dive deeper into trusted databases and research when you have questions. Small changes — like choosing products that minimize triggers for skinflammation — can help protect your skin’s microbiome and overall health. Wearing gloves when doing dishes or using cleaning products is another skin-wise habit.

So next time you reach for that lotion, cleanser, deodorant, make-up, perfume, hair spray, or sunscreen, ask yourself: Do you know what you’re putting on your skin?

Be Well.

References

Environmental Working Group. (2024). EWG Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database. Environmental Working Group. Available at: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep

Bickers, D. R., & Athar, M. (2006). Oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of skin disease. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 126(12), 2565–2575.

Dodson, R. E., Nishioka, M., Standley, L. J., Perovich, L. J., Brody, J. G., & Rudel, R. A. (2012). Endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals in consumer products. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(7), 935–943.

Kim, J., Ko, Y., Park, Y., & Kim, N. I. (2019). Skin microbiome and its role in skin health and disease. Journal of Dermatological Science, 94(2), 181–188.

The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness - Mila McManus MD

Visit Our Business Listing Visit Website