Human skin is an organ necessary for life, covering the body, having a complex structure, multifunctionality and connection with all body systems. It is an aesthetic indicator of physical health and protects the body from numerous negative influences. This body studies the science of histology, and treats such areas of medicine as cosmetology and dermatology. To ensure effective care, it is necessary to know the features, structure and thickness of human skin.
Skin properties
Human skin has unique properties. It is the largest multilayer organ of the body. An adult has skin integers of 1.5-1.8 m 2 weighing 17% of body weight. They are soft, durable and flexible. The elastic layers are resistant to liquids, weakly concentrated alkalis and acids, temperature fluctuations. They are sensitive due to the numerous receptors that transmit information about environmental conditions to the brain, and the ability to self-repair.
Skin features
On the skin surface there is a pattern of rhombic and triangular sections formed by grooves, which on the fingers and toes are collected in patterns unique to each individual. This feature is used to identify in forensics. The color of the skin depends on the color of its tissues, the degree of translucent vessels, the amount of pigment melanin. It ranges from dark brown to pale pink in different human races. Most of the skin is covered with hair, with the exception of the mucous membranes, palms, soles. Located in the depths of the gland (sweat, sebaceous) have their holes on the surface - pores. Approximately 200 receptors, 5 million hairs and 100 pores are present in 1 cm 2 of skin.
Skin structure
The skin is a very complex organ. Under the microscope, on a slice, you can see 3 sections of human skin, called so: epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. They are different in composition, structure and purpose.
The epidermis is a multilayer surface tissue capable of keratinization, peeling and restoration. Thickness is from 0.04 mm at the eyelids to 1.6 mm at the soles and palms. It is separated by a basal membrane from the dermis and has 5 layers with different purposes, the first 3 are formed by living cells, and the last 2 are dead. Each of them is responsible for a specific function:
- basal - the emergence of epidermal cells at night, the production of melanin in special cells melanocytes;
- prickly - the production of strong keratin protein;
- granular - moisturizing the skin;
- brilliant - prevention of wear and friction of the feet and hands;
- horny - exfoliation of skin scales.
The epidermis has a large number of nerve endings and there are no blood vessels. Such a layer of skin eats lymph through the intercellular tubules. Dense epidermis is a protection for deeper skin.
Under the surface cover is a dermis made of strong connective tissue in the form of intertwined collagen protein fibers, which give the tissues elasticity and resilience. Consists of papillary and mesh layers. In the dermis there are sweat and sebaceous glands, capillaries, roots of nails, hair and nerve endings. A large accumulation of the latter in certain places of the skin - biologically active points - used in acupuncture. Connective tissue is capable of healing damage. Especially actively formed new cells of this layer during the waning moon, which is taken into account when choosing the optimal timing of medical operations. Collagen fibers of the dermis have the ability to retain and accumulate moisture, which affects the elasticity and smoothness of the skin. The epidermis and dermis are strongly interconnected. Their coherence weakens with age, and the surface cover ceases to receive enough nutrients and oxygen.
The lower part of the skin - hypodermis - is subcutaneous tissue containing areas of adipose tissue separated by interlayers of connective structures. There are blood vessels and sweat glands. Such a layer of human skin serves to enhance its strength, an obstacle from mechanical damage, heat loss, shaping the body. And also as a stock of nutrients in case of adverse conditions. The amount of fat is affected by age, lifestyle and the health of the hormonal system.
In an adult, the skin thickness is approximately 2 mm. Nails, glands (milk, sweat and sebaceous), hair are accessory formations of the cover.
Skin function
The primary purpose of the skin is protection from the environment. Let us consider in more detail what functions the human skin performs:
- Protecting the integrity of tissues with various effects: mechanical, microbes, bacteria, radiation; the introduction of foreign objects into the tissues.
- Ultraviolet protection through the formation of melanin in the skin, dyeing it in a darker color and neutralizing free radicals, with prolonged exposure to the sun.
- Heat regulation due to the action of sweat glands and the function of thermal insulation of the hypodermis, consisting of adipose tissue.
- Signal functions are performed with the help of receptors located in the skin and nerve endings that inform the brain about external influences and temperature changes.
- Excretory - maintaining water balance by removing excess fluid from the body with sweat glands.
- Participation in metabolic processes through the penetration through the skin of toxins and waste products (acetone, urea, salts, bile pigments, ammonia), external consumption of biological elements (vitamins, minerals) and oxygen (2% of the body’s gas exchange).
- The formation of vitamin D under the influence of ultraviolet light from the sun.
- Help moisturize and glide, especially in the area of the feet and palms,
- Recognition of allergens by Langerhans cells in the epidermis, activating the immune response.
By the power of mineral, water and gas metabolism, the skin is second only to the muscles and liver.
Types and condition of the skin
The skin is thin by the thickness of the epidermis (hair grows on it, there are 3-4 layers of keratinized cells, there is no shiny coat) and thick (on the palms and soles, there is no hair, there are all layers of the epidermis, keratinized cells are located in dozens of structures).
According to the degree of activity of the sebaceous glands, it is possible to divide the skin of a person into oily, dry, combined and normal. The first type is characterized by high activity of the sebaceous glands and the normal functioning of sweat, a low content of epidermal fats, moisture-retaining fibers.
For dry skin, no defining criteria have been identified. It is characterized by tightening after washing, the early appearance of facial wrinkles, quickly loses moisture and peels off without the use of special nourishing and moisturizing agents.
Combination skin is distinguished by areas with different functional features. The rare normal type of epidermis gives off the ability to quickly recover, a healthy appearance and the absence of oily sheen.
With age, the structure of the skin can change. However, you can always determine its type yourself. For this purpose, you need to attach a paper towel to your face 1-2 hours after washing your face and carefully examine the prints on it.
Depending on the degree of sensitivity to ultraviolet, the skin can be distinguished by phototypes: the first is Celtic (white, quickly scorching), the second is Nordic (tanning poorly), the third is dark European (responds well to sunlight), the fourth is Mediterranean (dark, does not burn), the fifth - Indonesian (not affected by the negative effects of the sun), the sixth - African American (very dark skin).
Under the influence of adverse factors, the skin can be in various conditions. It happens:
- sensitive;
- dehydrated;
- problematic;
- fading.
When choosing skin care products, you need to take into account age, type and condition.
Adverse skin factors
Factors affecting the condition of the skin are:
- heredity;
- hygiene;
- climate, prolonged exposure to frost or sun;
- lack or excess of vitamins;
- improper care (use of alcohol, washing with hot water and soap, leading to dehydration and sebum secretion);
- hormonal age-related changes (malfunctioning of the sebaceous glands);
- improper diet and drinking regimen;
- mechanical effects;
- improper functioning of the endocrine, circulatory, nervous, digestive systems;
- frequent stress;
- smoking and alcohol;
- hormonal drugs.
Skin and age
Cosmetologists consider the skin to be mature or fading after a person reaches 30-40 years of age and on the basis of some, not necessarily all, signs: wrinkles, sagging, pigmentation spots, translucent capillaries, yellowish tint, dryness, roughness. The optimal age for starting active use of cosmetics for the face and body is considered to be 35 years. The main principles of slowing the aging of the epidermis are: stopping the use of ordinary soap and thorough protection from adverse factors.
The skin of an elderly person is particularly vulnerable and susceptible to disease due to thinning, sagging, collagen reduction, sweating and sebum secretion. It requires special care and is prone to ailments that are studied by geriatric dermatology.
The Importance of Skin Care
People understood the need for skin care from antiquity when they began to use natural ponds, baths, scrapers, aromatic infusions, oils for this purpose. Maintaining health involves taking care of keeping your skin, nails and hair in good condition. A special medical section is hygiene, which studies the influence of people's living conditions on their health. Compliance with the purity of the body leads to improved protective functions, increase the resistance of the skin and the whole human body to external influences.
Skin care methods
Hygiene is a beauty companion. Taking a shower twice a day is necessary to maintain clean skin. To cleanse the thicker skin of a person, it is recommended to periodically use peeling or scrubs. The first involves the removal of dead cells and skin secretions from the epidermis using means with fruit acids. For dry skin, it must be done once every 2 weeks, for mixed and oily - every seven days. Scrub is a cosmetic preparation with solid particles for exfoliating the upper layer of human skin. Strengthening keratinization and desquamation can be affected by: a lack of vitamin A, treatment with certain hormones, mechanical effects.
The pigment of the epidermis protects the body from the penetration of ultraviolet radiation, however, the skin in the sun coarsens, dehydrates, peels, wrinkles and age spots appear. In addition, the immune system is deteriorating. This can be avoided by protecting the skin with sunscreen and tanning no more than 1 hour.
Moisturizing the epidermis with gentle patting techniques using special means is best done after a morning or evening shower (bath).
Creams are fed with light movements along the massage lines. Hands should be warm and skin slightly damp.
Skin care products
Daily skin care is aimed at cleansing, nourishing, maintaining tone, moisturizing. Cosmetic measures are carried out by various means specially selected according to skin type:
- shower gel and cream;
- body oil;
- foam and bath salt;
- masks and wraps;
- tonics, gels and lotions;
- moisturizing and nourishing creams for the face, neck, lips, eye area.
Traditionally, more attention is paid to the skin of the face, but you can not forget about the neck. In beauty salons, various professional methods are applied that improve the condition of any skin integument:
- laser rejuvenation to eliminate pigmentation and stimulate collagen production;
- photorejuvenation to eliminate skin problems with light pulses;
- ELOS rejuvenation by high-frequency current;
- thermage using radio frequency radiation for heating and collagen production;
- injection rejuvenation to smooth wrinkles;
- mesotherapy for skin tightening;
- ozone method to stimulate metabolic processes;
- chemical peeling for cardinal rejuvenation;
- various types of massage.
Skin care activities vary at different times of the year. Some winter procedures are ineffective and even dangerous in the summer, and vice versa.
Cosmetics for problem skin
Ideal epidermis is rare in humans. Greasy shine, freckles, dryness, redness and acne cause a lot of trouble to their owners and make them look for means to eliminate skin problems. One of them is special cosmetics that have a healing effect and deal with:
- elimination of irritation;
- shine reduction;
- disinfection and stopping the spread of inflammation;
- color improvement;
- by drying;
- whitening;
- pore cleansing;
- a decrease in the intensity of the vascular network;
- prevention of new rashes;
- elimination of post-acne;
- a decrease in the manifestations of dermatosis and eczema.
There are a lot of modern cosmetics for problem skin on the market, both for independent use and with the help of specialists. The main conditions for effective care of such an epidermis are timeliness, regularity, proper nutrition and maintaining the body in optimal physical shape.
Interesting facts about human skin
2 460 ml of blood passes through the skin per minute. Its full update occurs every 28 days. The skin, along with the lungs, takes part in the respiration of the body, 3 g of oxygen is supplied and 9 g of carbon dioxide is removed through it. An adult emits 700-1300 ml of sweat per day, and also loses 500 kilocalories. In women who smoke, the protective organ ages 4 times faster. The thickness of the human skin is different on different parts of his body: the thickest is on the palms and soles - up to 10 mm, extremely thin on the eyelids - 0.1 mm. 182 species of bacteria live on this organ.
Our skin is a gift that we received from nature, and we need to properly dispose of it. It is necessary to help your body as a whole and protective tissues in particular in overcoming the negative impact on them. After all, only healthy skin can perform its many important functions.