Skin – what do you know about it? How to take care of it?

The skin is the boundary and cover for all the internal organs of our body. On a daily basis, we don’t realize how many challenges it faces. How much do you really know about her?

What is the skin?

Did you know that the skin is an organ, just like all internal organs? It is the largest organ in our body – its surface area is between 1.5 and 2m². It’s thinnest around the eyes, though you know this for sure if you follow our social media. We have mentioned this more than once, as it is the main reason for the need to use creams dedicated specifically to the eyes. Do you know where the skin is thickest? Let us know in the comments if you knew the answer was heel. The thickness of the skin on the heels can be as thick as 5mm! This compares to just 0.5mm around the eyes. The weight of the skin alone is about 5kg!

What does the skin consist of?

One of the basics is the realization that the skin consists of three layers. Each of them has its own functions:

Epidermis

The outermost layer of the skin. It is most often associated with the stratum corneum and peels, but its main function is to stop the sun’s rays, allergens and microorganisms from entering the body. Note, however, that it is not indestructible. The function assigned to it makes it the most exposed to all external factors.

Using protective, antioxidant and moisturizing creams is a must if you want to keep your skin looking healthy. Incidentally, this is why all the creams we use work in this layer of the skin and not deeper. In the epidermis they are most needed. Interesting fact: the epidermis is completely replaced about every 28 days. As you get older later – the cycle can last from 35 to even 50 days.

Dermis

The layer responsible for the accumulation of collagen, and thus for the tension of our skin. It contains sweat glands and sebaceous glands, so one of the functions it performs is thermoregulation. In addition, there are also nerve endings in the dermis – through them we feel pain, cold, heat, pressure or touch. Embedded in the dermis, but also partially in the subcutaneous tissue, are the hair sacs and parts of the sebaceous and sweat glands responsible for secreting them outward to lubricate the epidermis and hair.

Subcutaneous skin

It is made up of connective tissue more loosely. This means that it is “woven” loosely, allowing the skin to slide over muscles or bones. It also consists of fat, although the amount of fat depends on a great many factors, for example, diet, age, sex and hormonal activity. We don’t associate fat in everyday life with the best, but nevertheless here it is a source of energy. In addition, it is an insulating layer – it protects against injury, and due to its high water absorption, it is also used in water-electrolyte management.

Our skin is also our business card. Any deficiency in, for example, vitamins or water, first shows up on the skin. Why? When the body notes a shortage of water, it stops supplying it to the skin to properly hydrate the “more important” internal organs. Because of this, it is advisable to use creams with antioxidant properties, because you need to provide the body with really a lot of them for the skin to benefit from it. Luckily, she has a very high regenerative capacity, so she is able to endure the fact that she is usually “last in line.”

Interesting facts about leather

Interesting fact: inferring from the appearance of the skin, doctors detect about 20% of cases of diabetes. On the other hand, dry, flaky and irritated skin may indicate thyroid disease. In addition to protecting the body and thermoregulation, the skin also has the ability to excrete harmful substances. This is most easily observed during a treatment to cleanse the body of toxins. Sweat then has a much more intense odor.

Fact or myth?

The skin absorbs active ingredients from creams better at night. It is a FACT. At night, the skin works very intensively, not exposed to light or other irritants, and has time to regenerate. Water in the tissues equalizes, elastin fibers regenerate, and the lipid layer rebuilds, resulting in waking up in the morning with a tight, rested complexion. Then how? Will you go to bed a little earlier tonight?