More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Skin Care – And Then Some

"So", you ask, "just what is my skin made of & what does it do?" Excellent questions! Here are the basics: Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body? It totals 1/6th of your body weight; it breathes, excretes, absorbs & protects. Imagine it as a huge, waterproof, leak proof but permeable, super-stretchable sack that keeps your insides in & the environment & germs out.

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It is subjected to heat, cold, rain, bacteria, sun and chemical and environmental pollution. Is it fun to be skin, or what? Yee-ha! One of the main functions of the skin (as well as a skin care regimen) is protection. It protects the body from external factors such as bacteria, chemicals, and temperature. It also contains secretions that can kill bacteria and the pigment melanin provides a chemical pigment defense against ultraviolet light that can damage skin cells.

Another important function of the skin is body temperature regulation. When it’s exposed to a cold temperature, the blood vessels in the dermis constrict. This allows the blood which is warm, to bypass the skin. The skin then becomes the temperature of the cold it is exposed to. Body heat is conserved since the blood vessels are not diverting heat to the skin anymore.

Now for the more technical stuff. Our skin is a complex engineered covering, composed of cells, sweat pores, and sebaceous (oil producing) glands. The skin is continually repairing and renewing itself. 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. Exfoliation (part of an optimal skin care program) removes these dead cells.

The skin has a slightly acidic coating of oil at the surface (which can be stripped away with harsh, commercial soaps in an improper skin care regimen). This coating protects it 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 and how wrinkled and lined it is. Healthy collagen is often called soluble collagen, because it can absorb and hold moisture. Below the collagen is a layer of fat and muscle, which provides some contour and acts as a cushion and as insulation.

The skin has three layers. The inner most layer is known as the lower dermis, the middle layer is called the dermis, and the outer layer is known as the epidermis.

Lower Dermis

The various glands such as the oil and sweat glands originate in the lower dermis. From here, they rise to the surface of the derma to eliminate waste matter. Lower dermis also acts as a cushion for the rest of the derma. It contains the finely distributed muscles of the skin which regulate body temperature.

Epidermis

This is the top layer of the skin and the one you can actually see. It protects your body from invasion and infection and helps to seal in moisture. It's built up of several layers of living cells which are then topped by sheets of dead cells. It's constantly growing, with new cells being produced at its base. They quickly die, and are pushed up to the surface by the arrival of new ones, These dead cells eventually flake away, which means that every new layer of skin is another chance for you to have a soft, glowing complexion.

The lower levels of living cells are fed by the blood supply from underneath, whereas the upper dead cells only need water to ensure they're kept plump and smooth. The epidermis is responsible for your coloring, as it holds the skin's pigment. It ranges in thickness from l/20-th of an inch on the palms and soles, to 1/200-th of an inch on the face.

The skin also contains the following specialized organs:

Sebaceous Glands

Tiny organs which usually open into hair follicles on the surface of your skin. They produce an oily secretion, called sebum, which is your skin's natural lubricant. The sebaceous glands are most concentrated on the scalp and face - particularly around the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead (referred to as the T-zone in the skin care world), which is why these are usually the most oily areas of your skin.

It is subjected to heat, cold, rain, bacteria, sun & chemical & environmental pollution. Is it fun to be skin, or what? Yee-ha!

Sweat Glands
There are millions of them all over your body & their main function is to regulate your body temperature. When sweat evaporates on the skin's surface, the temperature of your skin drops.

Hair Follicles
Where hairs grow from. They can help keep your body warm by trapping air underneath them.

And there you have it! As you can see, proper skin care is a little more than just applying night cream! It needs lots of love and attention. Hey, that’s a great segue way to our next skin care topic – establishing a Skin Care Regimen.

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