Its About Acne
Skin - More Than Just Good Looking
By: La HunterThe skin is a resilient outer garment of tissue that cloaks the entire body, and keeps it intact. It is our largest organ, and it performs a multitude of tasks including, shielding our internal parts from external elements, providing us with the sense of touch, and maintaining a constant body temperature. Skin is composed of about seventy percent water, yet it is flexible, waterproof, strong, has the ability to heal wounds, and makes up about fifteen percent of our total body weight.
The skin has three distinct layers working in harmony, to provide us with a magic cloak of warmth, protection and individuality. The inner layer comprises of fat tissue that acts as insulation, keeping the body temperature constant, and also as a buffer that insulates our inner organs from bumps and shocks.
The middle layer of the skin, or dermis, is the thickest, it houses blood vessels, lymph nodes, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and also some nerve and muscle cells. All of these components play important roles in contributing to the health, protection and performance of the body. Sweat glands release secretions that cool the surface of the body during hot conditions, as well as expel unwanted salts from the system. Sebaceous glands produce oil that keeps the skin soft, waterproof and nourished. The numerous number of blood vessels in the dermis, carry oxygen throughout the skin giving it life and vitality. Lymph nodes are infection indicators.
The outer layer of skin, or epidermis, comprises of three types of cells that work in unison to tone the skin and replace dead cells. The inner layer of cells produce melanin, which determines the skins tone. This group of cells are constantly multiplying, and as they develop they move up to form the next layer, then finally migrate to the outer layer. When the outer layer of cells die off, they are shed and replaced by new cells from below. This reproduction process, takes about three weeks.
The skin is not only a magical, protective, self renewing cloak that holds the body together, it is a vital organ that a lot of people often take for granted. The numerous number of nerve endings present in the skin, enable people to feel and react to the sensations of heat, cold, touch, pressure, vibration and injury. A large amount of blood circulates through the skin, allowing it to receive a constant supply of oxygen, and maintain control of energy requirements.
When the skin is exposed to the sun, ultraviolet rays are absorbed and photochemically converted into vitamin D, which is absorbed by the body. Ten minutes of daily exposure to the pre-noon sun, is enough to receive an adequate amount of this essential vitamin.
Through non verbal expressions such as, blanching or blushing, laughing or crying, the skin acts as a medium of communication that expresses emotional messages, as well as indicating a person's health and state of mind.
The skin, is the body's first line of defense and it faces many of the world's hazards, such as dust, pollution, heat, cold stress and improper lifestyle. There are many forces that attack the skin, absorbing it's moisture, burning it and causing it to become infected. A proper skin care regimen should be adopted at an early age, in order to keep the skin fresh, healthy, and able to defy the aging process.
La Hunter
Its About Acne
