Skin, the largest organ of the body, is a strange and wonderful thing. It’s waterproof but can adsorb. It’s a body warmer or cooler. It’s elastic. It’s a waste releaser. It’s a producer of vitamin D (which has been linked to mood). It’s a protector against the big and the little. It’s a sensor. Multi-functional wonderfulness.
There are pretty dead cells at the top of the epidermis; these dead cells flake off all the time. At the base of the epidermis new cells are formed, so don’t stress too much. The dermis, underneath the epidermis, is where all the good stuff is. Hair roots and follicles, various sweat glands, sensory nerves, muscles and more. Here there is a blood supply. The subcutaneous layer is essentially a layer of fat or adipose tissue.
The skin varies in thickness all over the body. The thickest places tend to be the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. The thinnest part seems to be the eyelids, as an example. Melanin is the pigment that determines skin, hair and eye colour. Melanin is produced by skin cells when exposed to the sun.
For your skin to celebrate your diet, it needs vitamins A, B2, B3, C and iron. When you skin gets unhappy, it can be a deficiency of these vitamins and/or:
- lack of water
- smoking
- drinking excessive alcohol
- spending a long time in air-conditioned spaces
- moving between hot and cold frequently
- excess sunlight
When the skin is damaged e.g. gets grazed, the area become inflamed, blood might come along and clot. Epithelial cells multiply which can bring an open wound together. Granulation ensures there is a blood supply to the wounded area. The granulation tissue is replaced with scar tissue. Scar tissue does not contain the sweat glands and hair follicles that a typical dermis contains.
Massage, aromatherapy and Indian head massage have a lot to do with the skin. Massage directly stimulates the skin; it can improve its condition e.g. nourish it if its dry. Indian head massage does this but also can help improve hair condition. Massage can help the skin release anything that’s clogged up. It removes dead skin and also moisturises it. Essential oils also impact on the skin, whether its them being absorbed by the skin, impacting on its blood vessels or helping improve the condition.
If you want to show love to your skin, please wear sun cream! If you are concerned about your skin, please see your GP or a dermatologist who will guide you in the right direction. Here is the NHS Website where you can find information about skin problems >>> https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/#S