Skin Care

Skin is the largest organ in the body, both by weight and surface area. In adults, the weight of your skin accounts for about 16% of your total body weight. The skin separates the internal environment from the external. The skin serves as a barrier to the environment, protects us from water loss, protects us from UV rays of the sun, produces vitamin D, helps regulate body temperature, helps regulate metabolism and has aesthetic qualities. However, skin diseases and infections can compromise that barrier. The skin is composed of several layers. The lowest layer is called the dermis. This layer is composed of a connective tissue, blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles, and sweat and oil glands. The outermost or top layer of skin is called the epidermis. This is the layer of skin we see. This layer rests on top of the dermis. The thickness of the epidermis varies with your age, your sex, and the location on the body of the skin. For example, the epidermis on the underside of the forearm is about five cell-layers thick. On the sole of the foot, the epidermis might be 30 cell-layers thick. The epidermis is, for the most part, impermeable to water. The epidermis consists of many layers: The stratum corneum, or outer layer. This layer is made of flattened epithelial cells in multiple layers. These layers are called keratinized layers because of the buildup of the protein keratin in those cells. Keratin is a strong protein that is specific to the skin, hair and nails. This layer of skin is, for the most part, dead. It is composed of cells that are almost pure protein. The translucent, or transitional layer. This is a translucent, thin layer of cells. This layer is sometimes visible in thick skin; however, nuclei and other organelles are not visible. The cytoplasm (the amorphous area between the nucleus and the outer membrane of the cell) is mostly made of keratin filaments. The suprabasal layers. This is three to five layers of flattened polygonal cells that have granules in the cytoplasm. Below them is a layer of cube-shaped cells that also contain bundles of keratin filaments. The basal or cell-division layer. This layer is just above the basement membrane and the dermis. It is a single layer of cells that undergo cell division to renew the upper layers of the epidermis. The human epidermis is renewed every 15-30 days. Proper surface nutrition feeds the cells of the basal layer. Exfoliation will remove dry or damaged skin of the outer layer to allow newer cells to be visible.

Skin problems arise from allergies, molds, foods, chemicals, cosmetics, insect bites, sun, wind, drugs and alcohol, just to name a few. Keeping healthy skin involves proper cleansing, providing moisture when needed, minimizing exposure to environmental elements, and the right nutrients for proper regeneration of cells. Neglect of this important organ can create skin that appears aged and unhealthy.

Time, weather, pollution and ultraviolet radiation can damage the appearance of your skin. You can combat these elements by minimizing your exposure to aenvironmental elements, consuming sufficient water each day and getting ample rest. In addition, it's important to manage stress properly and to pay close attention to your diet. Nutrients such as antioxidant vitamins A, C and E can help protect your skin from free-radical damage and provide cell nourishment. In addition, choose high-quality personal care items that cleanse, invigorate, nourish, moisturize and protect your skin and hair.