What is the largest organ in the human body? Do you know this? Yes, it is skin, and it weighs about 15% of our total body weight. For a healthy body, knowing more about the unique characteristics of your skin is very important. Let's get started!
Skin is an organ as it is made up of several tissues and cells with different and specific functions. It is a protective organ above all, and it changes with age, internal health, and external factors. Due to the characteristics of different areas of the same body, the skin is a sensitive organ in the process of constant development. Since the skin around the eyes is made up of a thinner epidermis, it needs different care than the skin on the feet.
Structure of the skin
There are three main types of skin layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer. The epidermis, the outermost layer, contains cells that produce pigment (skin color or shade), and they protect the immune system.
The dermis, the middle layer, contains capillaries, connective tissue, nerve tissue, and hair follicles. It also contains the body's sebaceous (sebum) glands and the sweat glands. The subcutaneous layer is the innermost layer of the skin and contains large blood vessels, fat, nerves, and connective tissue. It protects internal organs and muscles from harmful effects and regulates body temperature. It also produces a hormone called leptin that helps stabilize metabolism. Now that we understand how important our skin is to our survival, let's take a look at what negative factors affect skin health and, therefore, our overall health.
Internal negative factors
Internal factors that can affect the health and appearance of your skin are genetics, hormones, and diseases like diabetes. Genes determine our skin type and aging process, so there's not much we can do but minimize the factors that can exacerbate our genetic predisposition. Genes can influence our cellular regeneration and biological aging processes. They can also determine the activity of the sebaceous and sweat glands.
Hormonal changes can cause acne, especially during menstruation in women or during adolescence. Female estrogen decreases after menopause, so the natural moisturizing function of the skin also decreases.
Some serious medical conditions can manifest in the skin, such as diabetes, cancer, and most commonly, hepatobiliary problems or dysfunction. Liver problems are manifested by a rash or yellow skin pigmentation. So in many cultures, there is an old mentality that says bright and smooth skin indicates a healthy inner body. What you eat is what you are, and it shows in your skin, so a healthy, vitamin-rich diet is essential for healthier skin. Other internal factors that can affect the skin are harsh medical treatments like chemotherapy. There are also viruses that affect the skin by causing a rash, such as chickenpox and smallpox.
External negative factors.
The negative externalities are best known to people because you hear about them in TV commercials and they are very noticeable at skin level. The following are the most common negative external factors on the skin:
Sunburn / UV radiation
* Over-spray or artificial tan
* Significant temperature changes
* Chemical products
* Washing too much
* Smoke
Common skin conditions
Bored of acne or reduced skin pigmentation? You should know that acne and hypopigmentation are among the most common skin conditions. Acne affects more than 50 million Americans each year according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Atopic dermatitis will affect 1 in 10 people during their lifetime. According to MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, 50 million men and 30 million women are affected by hair loss, according to MedlinePlus. Rosacea, or facial redness, affects 16 million Americans, mostly over the age of 30. Vitiligo, another very common disease, characterized by hypopigmentation or white spots on the surface of the skin, affects more than 70 million people worldwide. All these skin conditions are usually related to negative external factors and improper nutritional care.
Skin is a complex organ and sensitive that requires intensive care. It's a wonderful part of our body and it holds much more to it than that.
10 Bizarre Things You Should Know About Your Skin
1. Every 28 days, it renews itself.
2. About 50% of the dust in your home is dead skin.
3. The growth rate of body hair is 2-6 years
4. The thickest skin is on the soles of your feet.
5. Skin is thinnest on the eyelids.
6. We lose about 20 to 100 hairs per day.
7. Scars without hair or sweat glands
8. Sweat has no odor, but the bacteria in it do.
9. The skin contains 1000 different types of bacteria.
10. Newborns develop skin color in 6 months.
The human body deserves respect and care, including the skin. This means we have to be careful about what we eat and what we expose ourselves to, from stressful environments to weather conditions. Remember that healthcare is a modus vivendi.
0 Comments