| 10 Skin Facts Healthy skin reflects a healthy body. Research continues to underline the necessity for a healthy diet aided by the addition of nutritional supplements. When the demands of the body outweigh the supply of nutrients, the skin is the first organ to show the signs. This may be expressed as damage, disease or deterioration. 1. UV Rays Ultraviolet (UV) rays are invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. UV rays can burn the eyes, hair, and skin if these parts of the body are not properly protected, or if they undergo too much exposure to the sun. 2. Sweat Glands Sweat glands are exocrine glands, found in the skin of all mammal species, that are used for body temperature regulation. In humans a system of apocrine - and merocrine sweat glands is the main method of cooling. 3. Largest Organ Your skin is your largest organ. It covers your entire body and has a surface area of around 2 square metres. Its thickness varies from 0.5mm on your eyelids to 4mm or more on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. In total, it accounts for around 16 percent of your body weight. Taken from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science 4. Basal Cell Basal cell carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the deep basal cell layer of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin). It is six to eight times more common than malignant melanoma. 5. Natural Oils One of the reasons why skin is having such a hard time these days is because of the lack of natural oils in our diet. Without these our skin can become thin, dry and itchy and more liable to allergy. 6. Pollution, Stress and Fatigue Pollution, stress and fatigue can cause blood micro vessels to contract. As a result: fair skin can lose its rosy fresh look, and dark complexion lose their golden glow. Complexion becomes dull and signs of fatigue can appear more marked on the skin, even when you wear make-up. 7. Weather Your skin is driest in winter, when temperatures and humidity levels plummet. The reverse may be true if you live in desert regions, where summer temperatures can top 110 and humidity levels sink to 10 percent or less. 8. Hot Baths and Showers Frequent showering or bathing in hot water, breaks down the lipid barriers in your skin. So does frequent swimming, particularly in heavily chlorinated pools. 9. Central Heating and Air Conditioning Central heating and air conditioning reduce humidity and dry your skin. 10. Subcutis The subcutis is the deepest layer of skin and is also known as the subcutaneous layer. The subcutis, consisting of a network of collagen and fat cells, helps conserve the body's heat while protecting other organs from injury by acting as a "shock absorber." |
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