Understanding our Skin.
Skin
Did you know that our skin is the largest organ in our body? It is amazingly complex system that consists of five different layers. Our skin should be moist, soft, smooth and somewhat acidic.
Interesting Skin Facts
Our skin weighs approximately seven pounds and accounts for about 15% of our body weight.
Skin contains one-half to two-thirds of the blood in our body & one half of our primary immune cells.
Each inch of skin contains:
-15 feet of blood vessels
-12 feet of nerves
-650 sweat glands
-100 oil glands
-65 hairs
-1300 nerve endings
Skin Functions
Our skin’s main functions are protection, sensation, heat regulation, excretion, secretion and absorption.
It’s most amazing feature is the ability to heal itself. It has many mechanisms to protect the body from injury and invasion. Sebum is the oils on our skin, this protects us from external factors and keep us looking young. For all of those women that hate their oily skin, just hang on and be happy, it will slow your aging process down. Melanin is what protects us from the sun.
Sense of touch – Nerve endings in the papillary layer of the dermis (skin) sense touch. Sensory nerve endings respond to touch, pain, heat, cold and pressure.
Heat Regulation – Our body’s internal temperature is set at 98.6F or 37 C. When it is cold our bodies respond by constricting of our blood vessels which decreases the blood flow. So that’s why we get goose bumps, it keeps that heat from escaping. So when we overheat millions of sweat glands and hair follicles dissipate heat through perspiration.
Excretion – One of the most amazing traits about skin. If we did not do this we would die! All those toxins would be back absorbed into the body and make us sick. So that’s also why those work out fanatics push themselves to the point they are pouring sweat.
Secretion – oil, a.k.a. sebum, is secreted by the sebaceous gland to protect the surface of the skin and coats the hair with a protective coating of oil. Since skin is about 50-70% water the oil coating slows down the water evaporation that happens daily.
Absorption – the skin can selectively absorb topical products and creams through the sweat glands and hair follicles. The skin can also absorb oxygen and discharge carbon dioxide.
Layers of the Skin
The skin is made up of two parts, the Epidermis and the Dermis. Epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin. It consists of:
Stratum germinativum
Stratum spinosum
Stratum granulosum
Stratum lucidum
Stratum corneum
The Epidermis
Stratum germanativum – A.k.a., the basal layer. It is located just above the dermis layer. It contains only one layer of cells; this is where cell division occurs continuously. As the cells mature they become stronger and start to rise to the surface. This is also the layer where Melanin resides.
Stratum spinosum – this is the layer where tiny prickly spines or appendages from the cells below it bind to the next layer. It’s your ‘glue’ that holds it altogether, which is called desmosomes.
Stratum lucidum – it is a clear layer of cells that let light pass through. This layer is found only in the feet and the palms of the hand.
Stratum corneum – is the outermost layer of the epidermis. This is the part we see. It is made up mostly of keratinocytes which is scale-like cells. Keratine is a fibrous protein that provides us with resiliency and protection.
The Dermis
This is considered the live layer of connective tissue below the epidermis. It’s about 25 times thicker then the epidermis and is responsible for supplying nourishment through blood and lymph vessels to the skin.
Glands
There are 2 types of glands in the dermis, the sudoriferous and the sebaceous gland. The sudoriferous gland secrets sweat. The sebaceous gland secrets oil.
Cell Replacement
The skin, heart, liver and kidneys constantly have their cells replaced every 6 to 9 months. Bones every 7 years
Collagen – make up about 70% of the dermis. And elastin is only about one-fifteenth of the collagen amount. Unfortunately they are not replaced by the body. This causes your skin to loose it’s pliability over time.
Research is showing that such ingredients such as vitamin A and AHA’s may stimulate collagen production and improve elasticity.
Skin Color
Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin. Melanin is a complex protein that determines skin and hair color. Every human has about the same number of melanocytes. Your skin & hair color are dependant on how many are activated.
Aging of the Skin
Aging of the skin comes from many factors.
Heredity Health habits
Sun exposure The environment
General lifestyle
Sun has the greatest impact on the aging of our skin. It weakens our collagen and elastin. It’s responsible for about 80% of the aging that happens over our life time.
There are two types of rays, UVA & UVB.
UVA/aging rays – these are the rays that weaken collagen and elastin. They make up about 90-95% of the ultraviolet rays that hit the earth.
UVB/burning rays – are responsible for tanning. They activate our melanocytes. They also contribute to the body’s synthesis of vitamin D and other important minerals.
The sun is a beautiful thing it provides us with life force. It is responsible for all the beautiful plant life we enjoy each day, our food, and our spirit. So go out and enjoy it!
Vitamins and Dietary Supplements
Vitamin A – supports overall health of the skin by repairing of the cells and it regulates the functioning of the skin. You may hear it called retinoic acid or Retin-A. It is an antioxidant that helps prevent certain cancers and improves skins elasticity and thickness.
Vitamin C – you may hear this one called ascorbic acid. It helps repair the skin and tissue and supports the healing process of the body. Also promotes collagen production.
Vitamin D – provides us with rapid healing of the skin. Supports health of bones and can be taken in by our skin from the sun!
Vitamin E – or tocopherol helps protect skin from the damaging effects of the sun when used in line with vitamin A. It can be used internally and externally to heal damaged tissue. Great for stretch marks and burns.
Water and the Skin
Water composes about 50-70% of our body weight. Drinking pure water is essential to the health of our skin and body. It helps eliminate toxins and wastes, regulates body temperature and aids in proper digestion.
The amount of water varies depending on your weight and activity level. To find out just how much water you should be getting take your body weight and divide it by two. Divide this number by eight. The number left is about how many 8-ounce glasses of water you should drink a day.
Example: if you weigh 160lbs.
160 ÷ 2 = 80 ÷ 10 = 10 eight ounce glasses.
If intense physical exercise is done you should add 2 glasses to your final number to account for loss of fluids during perspiration.
Not enough water can actually slow metabolism down by 3%. So drink up to keep that metabolism high! It can ward off hunger pangs and fatigue.
