Two square meters of skin cover our
body, making skin the largest human organ. Healthy skin is important
because it is the most visible part of our body. To look after
your skin better and to make the right decisions about your cosmetic
and medical needs, you need a good understanding of what skin
is made up of.
As the
outermost covering of the body, your skin is the first line of
defence against pollution, microorganisms, radiation and physical
trauma. Skin also regulates body temperature, cooling the body
when it is hot and conserving heat when it is cold. It manufactures
Vitamin D from sunlight and helps remove waste such as urea.
As a sensory organ, skin enables us to feel heat, pressure, pain,
touch and pleasure.
THE SKIN'S THREE LAYERS:
- Epidermis (epi- means "on top
of") - the outermost layer of the skin. A healthy epidermis
looks clear and feels smooth. To remain healthy, old cells need
to be replaced by new cells.
- Dermis (dermis means "skin")
- a healthy dermis gives the skin volume, firmness and a radiance
when it is richly supplied with blood and moisture.
- Subcutis (sub- means "below"
and cutis is just another term for skin) - the innermost layer
that acts like a cushion that insulates the body. It also acts
like a cushion against shock to protect internal organs.
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