Three flowers to help repair damaged skin

What do you put on your skin? The skin, the biggest organ in the human body, provides a defence barrier to protect internal organs and also plays an essential role in maintaining homeostasis [1]. Homeostasis is the interior state of balance allowing the body to function correctly. Natural and environmental factors change the structure of the skin from both the inside and outside on a daily basis. Here are three common flowers which assist in repairing damaged skin.

To extract the healing molecules, the flowers can be macerated in oil and applied topically. The blog post "Homemade Infused Carrot Oil" gives you information on the general technique for preparing herbal infused oils.

Perhaps the most well-known flower in terms of skin health is the Calendula (Calendula officinalis), also known as Pot Marigold in the UK. Its Latin name appears to come from the word "calendulae" meaning small calendar or clock. This flower is easy to grow in the garden or in a pot, and can even survive the winter outside in certain temperature zones. It has yellow or orange flowers organised in radial symmetry (for more information see the previous post "What makes a flower attractive?"). Spatula-shaped leaves grow in the lower part of the stem whilst the upper leaves are oblong. As a self-seeding plant, Calendula will spread easily and requires little maintenance.

Applied to the skin, it can treat a range of minor conditions, including inflammation, small cuts or burns and irritation [2]. Calendula has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties [3][4]. Thanks to its flavonoids, it can promote wound healing by stimulating the production of collagen and other tissues [2].

Although often associated with treatment for depression, St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) has wound healing, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties [5]. Applied externally in the form of an oil, it can treat minor sunburn, wounds and burns, bruises and contusions [5]. Hypercin, a bioactive compound in the plant can trigger photosensitivity, so skin should not be exposed to sunlight following application. The oblong leaves of St. John's Wort are covered in small translucent dots. When the leaf is held up to the light, it appears to be perforated, hence the latin name "perforatum". Its beautiful bright yellow flowers have five petals and five leaf-like sepals and generally bloom around St. John's day on 24th June. If you crush a flower between your fingers, you will notice the red colour which is characteristic of the herbal infused oil. The base of the plant is fairly woody.

Bellis Perennis, better known as daisy, is a perennial with short rounded leaves which grow in a rosette around the base of the stem. The flower is a composed of a capitule of tubule yellow flowers and white ligular petals. As well as preventing damage to the skin from exposure to UV light [7], daisy infused oil has anti-inflammatory and scar-healing properties [6]. It is used to maintain healthy skin by toning the tissue and improving elasticity.

The next time you reach out for a skin product, remember that these three flowers offer a wide range of benefits and they may even be sitting right outside your front door.

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[1] Jin, R.; Luo, L.; Zheng, J. The Trinity of Skin: Skin Homeostasis as a Neuro–Endocrine–Immune Organ. Life 2022, 12, 725.

[2] Silva, D.; Ferreira, M.S.; Sousa-Lobo, J.M.; Cruz, M.T.; Almeida, I.F. Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Calendula officinalis L. Flower Extract. Cosmetics 2021, 8, 31.

[3] Shahane K, Kshirsagar M, Tambe S, Jain D, Rout S, Ferreira MKM, Mali S, Amin P, Srivastav PP, Cruz J, Lima RR. An Updated Review on the Multifaceted Therapeutic Potential of Calendula officinalis L. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 Apr 18;16(4):611.

[4] Albahri G, Badran A, Hijazi A, Daou A, Baydoun E, Nasser M, Merah O. The Therapeutic Wound Healing Bioactivities of Various Medicinal Plants. Life (Basel). 2023 Jan 23;13(2):317.

[5] Wölfle U, Seelinger G, Schempp CM. Topical application of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). Planta Med. 2014 Feb;80(2-3):109-20.

[6] Al-Snafi, Ali. (2015). The Pharmacological importance of Bellis perennis - A review. International Journal of Phytotherapy. 5. 63-69.

[7] Souza de Carvalho VM, Covre JL, Correia-Silva RD, Lice I, Corrêa MP, Leopoldino AM, Gil CD. Bellis perennis extract mitigates UVA-induced keratinocyte damage: Photoprotective and immunomodulatory effects. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2021 Aug;221:112247.