Let's learn about skin
If you suffer from a skin condition like psoriasis, eczema,
rosacea or acne, chances are you spend a lot of time thinking
about your skin. Unfortunately, you may be focusing more on
pain and discomfort than on what a truly amazing organ the
skin is! Over a thousand nerve endings, 650 sweat glands,
and 60,000 melanocytes can be found in one square inch of
skin. As the body's largest organ, the skin accounts
for about 15% of total body weight and in area measures an
average of 1.8 square meters.
It is important to understand how the skin works so you can
make the best choices for providing your skin with proper
nutritional support, to keep it functioning optimally, and
to facilitate healing of pre-existing skin conditions. From
temperature regulation and defense to synthesizing vitamins
and retaining moisture, the skin performs a wide array of
functions, each essential to our health.
- Defense - Our skin acts as a physical barrier
to the external environment. It also contains melanin, which
blocks UV rays.
- Moisture retention - The skin controls evaporation
to protect against fluid loss.
- Storage - Lipids, water, and nutrients are
stored in the skin.
- Sensory - Nerve endings contained in the
skin allow us to perceive external stimuli such as temperature,
injury, touch, and pressure.
- Temperature regulation - Blood vessels within
the skin constrict or dilate to keep the body within the
correct temperature range.
- Synthesis - The skin synthesizes vitamins
B and D.
- Excretion - Fluids and toxins are excreted
through the sweat glands.
- Absorption - Small amounts of oxygen, nitrogen,
and carbon dioxide can enter the system through the skin.
Medications, ointments, and lotions can also be applied
and absorbed transdermally.
With the skin being responsible for so many important functions,
it's easy to see why anyone - not just those with
chronic skin problems - could use extra support!
Our skin - a many-layered organ
The skin is divided into three main layers: the epidermis,
dermis, and hypodermis. The epidermis and dermis are divided
into additional layers, each responsible for a unique set
of functions.
The epidermis
The epidermis, the outermost and most visible layer of the
skin, is divided into five additional sublayers called strata.
The strata corneum, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum, and basale sublayers vary in thickness
over different areas of the body. The epidermis is primarily
comprised of dead skin cells that replenish themselves every
28-30 days. People with psoriasis produce the dead skin
cells at a much higher rate than the body is able to slough
off, which results in the painful, itchy plaques often associated
with the disease. The cells that make up the corneum, the
outside layer, are held together with a combination of lipids
and fatty acids that help prevent moisture loss. The epidermis
acts as a defense against the external environment and contains melanin, the pigment that protects against UV rays
and causes variations in skin color.
The dermis
The middle layer of the skin, or dermis, contains blood vessels,
hair follicles, sweat glands and nerves. Many of the functions
of the skin take place in this layer. It is here that vitamin
D is synthesized and where the muscles that cause us to get
"goose bumps" are located. The skin's structure
and elasticity are provided by collagen and elastin,
which comprise a large portion of the dermis. Body temperature
is regulated by dilation and constriction of blood vessels,
and our ability to perceive touch is due largely to the millions
of nerves found within this layer. The dermis also plays an
important part in immune function, and mast cells,
which cause an immune system response, are also located here.
The dermis is divided into two additional layers, papillary and reticular. You can actually see the papillary
layer just by looking at your hand: the raised ridges and
lines that form fingerprints are actually the delivery system
for nutrients from the dermis to the epidermis. The reticular
layer is connected to the hypodermis (see below) and contains
structures such as sweat glands and corpuscles.
Sweat glands, hair and pores are also present in both the
dermis and epidermis. Acne can occur when hair follicles become
blocked by debris or dead skin, resulting in a red, pus-filled
bump. The blood vessels in this layer may also be responsible
for the ruddy complexion associated with rosacea.
The hypodermis
The deepest layer, the hypodermis, connects the skin to our
bones and muscles. The hypodermis contains as much as 50%
of our total body fat, and serves as a great insulator as
well as a storage area for many nutrients.
Skin health and appearance
The health and appearance of the skin are influenced by a
number of factors, some of which, like aging, are unavoidable.
In addition, climate, diet, stress and illness play roles
in how our skin looks and feels. As we age, the collagen fibers
and elastin in our skin lose some of their stretch and elasticity,
causing the skin to look looser. Fat stores can also be reduced
as we age, depleting nutrient stores and insulation. Those
who live in dry or cold climates may find it difficult to
keep their skin properly hydrated due to low moisture levels
in the air. Stress can also have a profound effect on the
skin and our system as a whole. Emotional stress may cause
an immune response to be triggered in the skin, which can
then contribute to inflammation in the rest of the body. Many
illnesses, including those of the digestive system, can deplete
the skin of vital moisture and nutrients.
Finally, diet can contribute a great deal to the health
of your skin. Proper water intake is necessary for adequate
moisture levels, and nutrients and enzymes need to be replaced
to ensure proper function. Occasionally people may suffer
from a condition known as leaky gut, which can develop as
a direct result of poor diet. One of the side effects of this
condition is over-toxicity in the system, causing the skin
to actually take over some of the toxin-filtering duties of
the liver. Many healthcare researchers believe this may be
the root cause of numerous skin conditions.
Please visit our library to
read more about how proper diet, intestinal health, and liver
function contribute to the health and function of the skin!
References:
Healy, B. 11/14/2005. Skin deep: As the body's largest
organ, skin is a powerful yet unappreciated veneer. U.S.
News and World Report. URL: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/051114/14skin.htm (accessed November 7, 2006).
Lipski, E., 2005. Digestive Wellness. NY: McGraw-Hill.
Pagano, J. 1991. Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Pagano Organization, Inc.
BBC Science and nature: Human body and mind. The body organs:
Skin. URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/skin/skin.shtml (accessed November 7, 2006).
Wikipedia. Skin. URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin (accessed November 7, 2006).
Principal Author: K. Kastelein, Editor
in chief
Date of Publication: 12/20/2006
Updated: 03/21/2007
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