How Does Skin Work?

Of all the body organs, the skin is the largest and the one of which you are most aware of. We are here to help you understand your skin and its management. We hope to provide you with all the basic, yet necessary, information you must possess to achieve a lifelong nourished skin. This water-proof covering and self-repairing body covering is a reflector of health and well-being.

Keratin, is the thickest of all body areas which is subjected to daily wear and tear. It prevents water loss and is impervious to many harmful chemicals and to bacteria. Melanin, at the same time acts as a natural sunscreen.

The Elastic tissue in the skin provide resilience. Although these tissues lose elasticity with age, causing skin to wrinkle. The fat layer beneath the dermis acts as insulator and cushion. Rather, this fat enables the skin to move especially in the areas such as face. We will help you in understanding and managing your skin for that lifelong glow. What you essentially need to follow is to take good care of your skin by protecting it from the harmful effect of sun and substances that irritate the skin. At the same time you need to follow a healthy balanced diet-which is the core to a healthy skin.

Source: Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine.

Composition of your Skin

The skin is made up of chiefly three layers. The uppermost layer s called the Epidermis. The intermediate layer is called the Dermis and the lowest layer is called the Hypodermis.

Specific roles:

1. "Epidermis" helps protect your skin from dehydration and infections. In this layer cell are produced, old cells die and new ones take their place. The new cells give your skin a healthy glow.
2. "Dermis" here cells produce collagen and elastin which are responsible for keeping your skin young and radiant.
3. "Hypodermis" It regulates your body's energy levels.

Functions of the Skin

The skin has several important functions:

1. It provides a protective barrier, defending the body from all outside environmental influences, including extremes in temperature and exposure to disease organisms such as harmful bacteria and infections, wind and ultraviolet rays from sunshine.
2. It acts as a thermostat, retaining heat or cooling you down with sweat.
3. It acts as a waste disposal. Certain waste is expelled from your body 24 hours a day through your skin in the form of excess water, toxins and carbon dioxide.
4. It is important in body processes such as respiration, and metabolism.
5. It provides you with a sense of touch to help you communicate with the outside world.
6. It responds to sudden changes in emotions.
7. The skin is the body's main organ of sexual attraction.

Our skin is a complex engineered covering. The skin has a slightly acidic coating of oil at the surface. This coating protects the skin against some bacteria. Below the surface is a complex of sweat and oil glands, hair follicles, blood vessels, nerves, and muscle tissue. These are held together by a tough connective tissue called collagen.

Collagen is very important in determining the health of the skin. The relative health of the collagen determines the contour of the skin, how wrinkled and lined it is. Healthy collagen is often called soluble collagen, because it can absorb and hold moisture.

The major skin problems most people face are wrinkling (due to age), and blemishes, or acne.

The skin is the largest and one of the most intriguing organs of the body, accounting for 16% of body weight.

The skin is continually repairing and renewing itself. When you are young, the main skin complaints are greasy skin and acne. But as you grow older, the skin gets dry and the challenge is to counteract the dryness of the skin. However, you can have beautiful skin no matter what your age, race or color. The secret is to understand how your skin functions, and to take care of it properly.

The Skin is composed of cells, sweat pores, and sebaceous glands. The surface layer of the skin is covered with a thin sheath of dead cells. These are continually being pushed up to the surface from below. If the dead cells are not removed, they can reduce and even block the skin's effort to breathe and eliminate waste.

For most of us, when we refer to skin care, we mean caring for the face. It is true that face, more than any other, needs care and attention. The face is constantly exposed to the elements, even in severe winter when the rest of the body is well wrapped. Hence, the face is one of the first parts of the body to show signs of aging.

The importance of keeping your skin healthy can’t be overemphasized. It’s the body’s first defense against disease and infection and it protects your internal organs from injuries. It is, in fact, the largest organ in the body. It regulates body temperature and prevents excess fluid loss. It also helps your body remove excess water and salt. The skin indicates youth or advanced age, overall health and protects internal delicate tissues from harm.

Our external covering is not isolated from other organs of the body, but rather clearly represents the health and cleanliness of the internal terrain. An experienced eye can easily identify nutritional deficiencies as well as other problems by simply examining the skin. This visible condition can indicate anything from the first signs of internal troubles to the final manifestation of more serious conditions within.

Treating any skin condition externally, while neglecting to address internal causes, may temporarily help in appearance but will seldom remedy any health situation permanently. Most topical applications of medications, over-the-counter aids and cosmetic solutions do little more than temporarily cover up the problem and such attempts become futile and frustrating. Careful consideration of lifestyle must be included in any permanent response.

The skin is intricately linked to each and every function connected to life. The elimination of toxins is possible because of the tremendous ability of the skin to remove poisons. The skin is our temperature regulator, body water regulator, nerve and pain/pleasure sensor and vitality-energy activator.