| This
is Part One of a two-part series. Read
Part Two here.
|
The
Skin, perhaps more than any other aspect of our body, effectively
reflects our life and experience. Yet it is also the most
vulnerable. Continually threatened by the ravages of time
and the unpredictable effects of the environment. Safeguarding
its health and appearance, at every age, is extremely important
for all of us, women and men alike.
The psychological effects of changes in our appearance and
especially the aging process, determine our state of mind
as powerfully as physical changes are reflected in the body.
Our looks are a fundamental part of our sense of self. And,
at best, they provide us with a sense of confidence and well-being
in our personal and social relations. Thanks to today’s scientific
advances in technology and what research has learned about
the functioning of skin, the ability to take care of one’s
skin and maintain its fitness has become possible for everyone,
not just the privileged, wealthy few.
--Peter
Lamas |
|
Everything
you need to know about skin -- its function, structure, problems and solutions.
 Your
birthday suit. Do you know how special it is? Everyone’s skin is the same
– yet quite different. Skin
has a personality just like you do although it’s made up of basic elements
all skins have in common.
The first
step in learning to take care of your skin well – for life – is to know
what you’re dealing with: a
wonderful, living, breathing organ that never stops changing, growing –
or needing your attention and help to be beautiful. Skin
is the largest organ of your body. It accounts for about 15% of our body
weight or approximately 6 pounds. What we see on the surface is just the
beginning.
There
are actually 3 essential layers:
- the
epidermis – the skin you see.
- the
dermis – the layers just below the surface.
- the
subcutaneous layer – the innermost layer.
Like a team,
each layer performs a specific, important function. Together the three
layers form a protective barrier against the outside world to keep vital
elements – like moisture and heat – in, and the world out.
Your skin
is intimately connected to our nervous system and emotions. It feels with
you. Blushing, turning pale or glowing, your skin reveals your most intense
thoughts and emotions, and often your internal health is revealed in your
skin colour, texture and general condition.
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The five
most important functions of skin are:
- Elimination:
All day, every day, skin removes toxins and debris as it sheds dead
cells.
- Secretion:
Skin’s many sebaceous and sweat glands help the body eliminate oil
and perspiration.
- Reproduction:
New cells are constantly being born through cell division in the basal
skin layer. (more on that later). In young skin, on average, the process
takes 28 days But as we age, cell repro slows down. By 70 or 80, new
cells can take up to 37 days to develop.
- Respiration:
Oxygen.Your skin can’t live without it. it’s crucial to cell life and
renewal. The skin gets its oxygen supply 2 ways: from oxygen-bearing
blood circulating through the cells and secondly, by drawing it in from
the air.
- Moisture
Control: It’s key to healthy, young-looking skin. Healthy skin maintains
its moisture balance naturally. Moisturizers assist by adding even more
moisture to the skin and locking it onto the surface. Firmness, suppleness
and smoothness are determined by your skin’s moisture content.
The
physiology of your skin
What you
need to know about the epidermis. It’s
the protective shield layer of your skin. It
constantly renews itself by shedding old cells to make room for new.
The
epidermis is actually comprised of five sublayers. The two to know about
are:
- the strateum
corneum – the visible layer. Speed
up the shedding process of this layer and voilà: better skin clarity,
reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- the basal
cell layer – where new cells are born. Here
amino acids, fatty acids and other vital substances provided by the
blood are transformed into new skin cells. these cells gradually move
up to the streateum corneum in a 28-day cycle.
Within
the basal cell layer are cells responsible for skin color. They produce
the amount of melanin that creates your natural skin tone. Melanin also
protects your skin against the sun. When you sun, even more melanin is
produced, resulting in a tan, freckles or the splotches we call “sun”,
“age” or “liver” spots. Sunning, in effect, puts your skin’s melanin production
in overdrive trying to protect your skin from burning.
What
you should know about the dermis
is that it is the most important part of the skin’s structure!
It
serves 3 important functions:
- It nourishes
and supports the epidermis and helps it stay elastic and supple.
- It delivers
nutrients to the epidermis through the circulatory system.
- It includes
cells that produce collagen and elastin proteins which provide a support
system of connective tissues that lend resiliency to the skin.
The
dermis is also where deep wrinkles first form. It is the source of blood
vessels, sebaceous and sweat glands, hair follicles and pressure sensitive
nerves that signal pain and touch. Waste products and carbon dioxide are
eliminated from tissues, carried away by the circulating blood.
What
you should know about the subcutaneous layer: Also
called the “fatty layer,” it is considerably thicker in women thus giving
the face a softer quality and finer texture than men’s. As your skin ages,
this layer diminishes, giving the face a more angular appearance. It’s
the "shock absorber" for the skin. The deeper hair follicles and
sweat glands also originate here. It
serves 6 important functions:
- Insulation
and heat conservation
- A cushion
against injury to bones
- Softens
angles and creates pleasing curves
- Supports
the upper layers, blood vessels and nerves
- Acts like
a nutrient reservoir
- Contains
sensory and motor nerves that create our sense of touch.
This
is Part One of a two-part series. Read
Part Two here.
Discuss
this article with others right now at
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