 |
- Identifying your skin type and using appropriate skin care products
- Learning how best to treat common skin problems
- Taking simple steps and seeing big results
|
 |
|
 |
|
What Is Skin?
The skin is the largest organ in the human body. In fact, each adult has approximately 16 square feet of it. The skin protects everything inside your body and helps to regulate body temperature through perspiration. In addition, the condition of your skin is an important indicator of your overall health.
Skin Layers
Skin is made up of three layers:
the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer. Each layer has a different purpose and consists of different kinds of cells. Though all skin consists of these three layers, skin varies in thickness on different parts of the body. The thinnest skin is on your eyelids, whereas the thickest is on the soles of your feet.
Epidermis
The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin. It’s made up mostly of squamous cells, which are flat and scalelike. Under these cells are basal cells. The deepest part of the epidermis contains melanocytes, which produce the melanin that gives each person a distinct skin pigment. The epidermis constantly sheds old cells and replaces them with new ones.
Dermis
The dermis is the second layer of skin. The dermis is made up of:
- Collagen: Consists of bundles of proteins and is the most prevalent part of the dermis. It keeps skin looking healthy and plump.
- Elastin: Allows the skin to stretch as you grow in height and weight.
- Sebaceous glands: Excrete sebum, a oily substance that lubricates the skin and provides a waterproof layer of protection.
The dermis is also made up of blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles, and nerves. As we age, collagen, elastin, and sebum production decline, causing wrinkles.
Subcutaneous
The subcutaneous layer is the third layer of skin. This layer is mostly made up of cells that store fat, but it also contains larger blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves. The fat in this layer protects you from injuries and helps the body hold in heat. Like the dermis, the subcutaneous layer diminishes with age, leading to wrinkles and sagging.
Skin and Aging
Skin serves as a window into the human body and provides an outward sign of the natural decline of the body’s functions. For example, as you age, your sebaceous glands become less active and produce less oil, which leads to drier and more wrinkle-prone skin. Additionally, the number of blood vessels in your skin lessens, leading to more fragile skin.
Though all skin ages naturally, certain factors can accelerate the aging process, including the following:
- Damage to DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contains the genetic information for each individual. Once DNA is destroyed in a cell, the cell dies or mutates. These mutations are caused by substances called mutagens. Some mutagens, such as free radicals, can’t be avoided. They occur naturally when the body oxidizes food to create energy. But free radicals can also be present in the body due to pollution, smoking, overexposure to the sun, obesity, and chemical by-products from the metabolism of alcoholic beverages. These kinds of free radicals are easier to avoid. Though substances called antioxidants usually neutralize free radicals, free radicals can nonetheless sometimes overcome antioxidants. When this happens, wrinkling of the skin may occur. Eating foods rich in natural antioxidants, such as brightly colored fruits and vegetables, can help your body better combat free radicals.
- Inflammation: Skin responds to irritations or illness by becoming inflamed. This natural response from our immune system warns us that something is wrong. Inflammation helps begin the healing process by increasing blood flow and sending immune cells to the compromised area, but this extra activity also releases free radicals. As a result, chronic inflammation contributes significantly to aging.
- Stress: When people are under stress, their bodies respond by speeding up their systems. This increase in acceleration releases free radicals and damages skin cells.
- Genetics: Though skin cells divide and reproduce over the years, they do have a finite lifetime, which depends partly on your genetic makeup. Over time, a cell will simply stop dividing and repairing damage from free radicals.
| Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
