Inflammaging: What Is It, What Causes It and How Can It Be Managed?
As we get older, our bodies naturally undergo a number of changes. But ageing is not simply about the years on the calendar. Increasing research is looking at the relationship between ageing, chronic low-grade inflammation and the way this may influence our health and wellbeing.
One term you may have come across is inflammaging.
But what exactly is inflammaging, what are the causes and triggers, what are the health risks, and how is it managed?
What is inflammaging?
Inflammaging describes a state of persistent, low-grade inflammation that becomes more common with ageing.
Unlike acute inflammation, which is a normal and important response to injury or infection, inflammaging is generally characterised by a longer-lasting inflammatory state without an obvious acute infection.
Research suggests that several processes associated with ageing can contribute to this inflammatory environment, including changes in immune function, cellular senescence (basically the cell shuts itself down), oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and changes to the gut microbiome.
Inflammation itself isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it is essential for protecting us from infection and helping tissues repair themselves.
The concern is when inflammatory signalling becomes persistent and poorly resolved.
What are the causes and triggers of inflammaging?
There isn't one single cause of inflammaging. It appears to be a complex interaction between ageing, genetics, lifestyle and environmental exposures.
Some of the factors associated with inflammaging include:
Ageing and changes in immune function
As we age, our immune system changes. This process, sometimes referred to as immunosenescence, can alter how the body responds to inflammatory signals.
At the same time, ageing can lead to an accumulation of senescent cells. These are cells that have stopped dividing but remain metabolically active and can release inflammatory signalling molecules.
Visceral fat
Body composition can also play a role. In particular, excess visceral fat, which surrounds internal organs, can contribute to the production of inflammatory mediators.
This is one reason that metabolic health is an important part of healthy ageing.
Gut health
The gut microbiome has an important relationship with the immune system. Changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiota may influence inflammatory pathways and are one of the areas being investigated in relation to inflammaging.
Smoking and environmental exposures
Smoking is a recognised source of inflammatory and oxidative stress. Other environmental factors, including pollution, are also being investigated as potential contributors to chronic inflammation.
Stress, sleep and lifestyle
Lifestyle factors can also influence inflammatory pathways. Physical inactivity, poor dietary patterns, excess body weight, smoking and chronic psychological stress have all been associated with inflammatory processes.
This doesn't mean that a particular food, supplement or lifestyle factor is solely responsible for inflammaging. It is much more useful to think about the overall pattern of health and lifestyle over time.
What are the health risks of inflammaging?
One of the reasons researchers are interested in inflammaging is its association with a number of age-related conditions.
Research has identified associations between chronic low-grade inflammation and cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, frailty and some neurodegenerative conditions.
There is an important distinction here: an association does not necessarily mean that inflammaging directly causes every condition with which it is associated.
Inflammation is part of a complex network of biological processes involved in ageing and disease, and researchers are still working to understand exactly how these relationships interact.
This is particularly important when discussing health online. Inflammaging should not be viewed as a diagnosis or something that can be identified simply by looking at someone's skin.
How is inflammaging managed?
There is currently no single treatment that simply switches off inflammaging.
Instead, management focuses on supporting overall health and addressing modifiable factors that can contribute to chronic inflammation.
This may include:
Regular physical activity and resistance training
Maintaining a healthy body composition
Eating a balanced, nutrient-dense diet
Prioritising supporting the gut-skin axis with good bacteria supplements
Not smoking
Keeping alcohol consumption within recommended limits
Prioritising good-quality sleep
Managing ongoing stress
Looking after metabolic and cardiovascular health
Treating underlying medical conditions appropriately
Physical activity and healthy lifestyle interventions are among the approaches investigated in relation to reducing chronic inflammation, although the science surrounding targeted treatments for inflammaging continues to evolve.
If you have concerns about persistent inflammation, unexplained symptoms or your general health, this is something to discuss with your GP or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
What does inflammaging mean for your skin?
The skin is also affected by the biological changes that occur as we age.
Over time, collagen production and skin repair mechanisms change. The skin may become thinner, drier and less resilient, while fine lines, pigmentation and changes in elasticity can become more noticeable.
Inflammation and oxidative stress are among the biological processes being investigated in relation to skin ageing. However, it is important not to suggest that inflammaging is the sole cause of visible ageing or that cosmetic treatments can treat systemic inflammaging.
Instead, a sensible approach to ageing skin is to consider the whole picture.
That includes skin health, lifestyle, skincare, sun protection and, where appropriate, professionally assessed aesthetic treatments designed around the individual's concerns and skin quality.
At Glow Aesthetics by Dora, it's about ageing well, not looking different
At Glow Aesthetics by Dora, our approach is centred around natural-looking results and supporting you as your skin changes through the different stages of life.
Led by Dora Aaron, Nurse Prescriber, every patient begins with a consultation.
This allows us to understand your concerns, assess your skin and discuss your individual goals before recommending whether treatment is appropriate.
Patient safety is our main priority. Not every treatment is right for every person, and sometimes the best clinical decision may be to recommend skincare, lifestyle measures or no treatment at all.
For women navigating their 40s, 50s and beyond, the aim isn't to try to stop ageing. It's about understanding the changes taking place and making informed choices about how you want to look after your skin.
Ageing is inevitable. Looking after yourself as you age is a choice.
If you're concerned about changes in your skin or would like to understand which treatments may be appropriate for you, a personalised consultation at Glow Aesthetics by Dora is the place to start.
Medical disclaimer
This article is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Inflammaging is an area of ongoing research, and the relationship between chronic inflammation, ageing and specific health conditions is complex. If you have concerns about your health, persistent symptoms or inflammation, please speak with your GP or an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
The information in this article does not suggest that aesthetic treatments can diagnose, prevent or treat systemic inflammation or inflammaging.
References
Franceschi C, Garagnani P, Parini P, Giuliani C, Santoro A. Inflammaging: a new immune-metabolic viewpoint for age-related diseases. Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 2018;14:576–590.
Ferrucci L, Fabbri E. Inflammageing: chronic inflammation in ageing, cardiovascular disease, and frailty. Nature Reviews Cardiology. 2018;15:505–522.
Calder PC, Bosco N, Bourdet-Sicard R, et al. Health relevance of the modification of low grade inflammation in ageing (inflammageing) and the role of nutrition. Ageing Research Reviews. 2017;40:95–119.
Fulop T, Larbi A, Dupuis G, et al. Immunosenescence and inflamm-aging as two sides of the same coin: friends or foes? Frontiers in Immunology. 2018;8:1960.
Ferrucci L, Fabbri E. Inflammation and ageing-related disease: a transdisciplinary inflammaging framework. GeroScience. 2025;47:515–542.
Cossarizza A. Inflammaging: Experimental Insights and Translational Advances. European Journal of Immunology. 2026;56(7):e70239.
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