Skin: An Understanding for Its Care
The skin is your body’s largest organ and its care can sometimes pose a challenge. Having an understanding of your body’s packaging helps with your care of it.
Your skin protects your internal body from heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. In addition, it helps regulate body temperature, stores water and fat, and produces vitamin D.
There are two main layers to your skin. The outer is referred to as the epidermis and the inner dermis.
The epidermis is mostly made up of flat cells called squamous cells. Round basal cells lie under the squamous cells in the epidermis and contain melanocytes.
Melonocytes produce melanin, which is the pigment that gives skin its color. When your skin is exposed to the sun melanocytes produce more pigment. Pigment is what causes your skin to tan, or darken.
As for the dermis, it contains:
Some of these glands produce sweat, which helps regulate body temperature.
Other glands produce sebum, which is that oily substance keeping your skin from drying out. Sweat and sebum reach the skin’s surface through tiny openings called pores.
Healthy skin care starts by keeping it clean and protected.
Related Health Blurbs:
- Home Remedies for Stretch Marks
- Skin Cancer: Who and When at Risk
- Dry Skin and Very Itchy Cause(s) of the Itch, Flaky Dryness
- How to Get Rid Of, Remove and Prevent Stretch Marks (Striae)
- Scar Prevention and Cosmetic Treatments After Wound Healing
- Common Causes of Noticeable Visual Skin Changes and Itchy Skin
- Life Threatening Signs of Heat Stroke and Symptoms for Medical Emergency
- Major Source of Vitamin D, Causes for Rickets Deficiency and Healthy Prevention
- Skin Gland Sweating and Causes for Excessive (Hyperhidrosis) Sweats or No (Anhidrosis) Sweat
