Most of you don’t take your skin for granted. Many of you spend hundreds of dollars on skin care remedies and regimens. The global skincare market was valued at USD 104.24 billion in 2022, and that’s a lot of skincare.
Have you ever looked deeper into your skin and how it relates to your overall health?
Skin Facts
Skin is the body’s largest organ and makes up about 19% of total body weight. On an average human, it covers a surface area of approximately 22 sq ft.
Different parts of your body have different thicknesses and textures of skin. Skin is thicker on the soles of your feet and palms of your hand, and thinner on your eyelids and genitals.
Skin plays an important role in acting as a protective barrier between the external environment and the inside of your body. It helps regulate body temperature, prevent water loss, produce vitamin D and detects stimuli, such as pressure, friction or heat.
Skin Composition
Your skin is composed of three layers, the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis.
The epidermis is constantly renewed as dead skin cells are shed daily. New skin cells form at the bottom of the layer and it takes about a month for them to work their way to the surface. These new cells replace old cells on the skin’s surface
The epidermis also produces melanin which gives the skin its unique tone, and is also responsible for suntans and freckles.
The dermis, or middle layer of skin is the thickest layer of skin. It contains nerves, blood vessels, sweat glands, oil glands and hair follicles.
This layer is made up mostly of collagen which makes the skin stretchy and strong.
The hypodermis is the deepest layer of skin. This layer is primarily a layer of fat, that helps insulate the body from heat and cold and cushion internal organs, muscles and bone. Its main function is to protect the body from injuries.
Skin and Health
Healthy skin is essential to protect you from hazards in your environment. Harmful environmental toxins can enter your body through your skin. Exposing your skin to polluted air and water can lead to an accumulation of these toxins in the body.
Healthy skin is also part of your body’s elimination system. Your body sheds toxins through the skin in the form of sweat.
Your skin can act as an indicator of your overall health. Many conditions first show themselves as skin problems. Lupus, diabetes, hepatitis C, some cancers and kidney failure are first indicated by a rash, discolouration or bumps on your skin. It’s important to pay attention to what your skin is telling you.
Skin and Beauty
The state and condition of a person’s skin have long been tied to the idea of beauty. Someone with healthy skin is more likely to be considered beautiful. Unhealthy skin detracts from a person’s otherwise attractive features and tends to make them less attractive.
Let’s not go crazy here with the idea of beauty, as that can be extremely subjective, and is different from culture to culture, age to age, and even person to person. Everyone has their idea of what is beautiful.
The point is that healthy skin is more likely to contribute to an overall impression of beauty.
Is it any wonder that billions of dollars are spent yearly on promoting, producing and maintaining healthy skin?
Professional Skin Care
There are a host of dermatologist-recommended skin treatments.
Microdermabrasion works to remove age spots and lighter acne scars. It is used to treat wrinkles and can be done quickly in an aesthetician’s office. Small crystals are sprayed onto the skin, which exfoliates dead skin cells. Suction is then immediately applied to remove the crystals and dead skin cells.
RF skin tightening involves using energy waves to heat the deep layer of your skin to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Radio frequency skin tightening is a good option for those who want to firm loose skin on their face or body and those who want to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Laser Skin Rejuvenation is an advanced wrinkle removal treatment that uses infrared light to tighten the skin. Many women consider it a good alternative to a traditional facelift, as it requires no anaesthesia, no scalpel and no recovery time.
Whatever you do, be nice to your skin. It is constantly protecting you. Taking care of your skin today can prevent future problems like wrinkles or skin cancer.
Knowing you look your best boosts your self-confidence and can give you a brighter outlook on life.
