Our skin is constantly bombarded by microbes, but is generally unaffected. This is due to the the presence of antimicrobial peptides. These peptides act like antibiotics and kill invading microbes on the skin. Without antimicrobial peptides, our skin’s barrier against infection and inflammation is highly diminished.
According to recent research, skin inflammation is one of the most common problems in dermatology. In ideal circumstances inflammation is a good thing – it is the body’s built-in defense system and provides protection against bacteria, viruses and injuries. But sometimes the body's system gets out of joint, leaving us with low levels of inflammation that can linger in the body.
When the inflammation is in the skin which is the body’s largest organ, this can affect your health and your appearance. Inflammation, paired with exposure to environmental toxins is a skin ageing 'double whammy'. Inflammation causes the skin’s barrier function to weaken which leads to loss of moisture and leaves the skin drier and more prone to sensitivity.
Topical ingredients like Mafura Butter that contain antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory limonoids help to bolster our own body’s natural antimicrobial peptide defenses. They have a protective effect by reducing inflammation. Both of these things may aid in the health of our skin, and in its appearance as well.
Our products with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties Heart of Africa Body Balm