Role of my Skin
Your skin is the largest organ in your body by surface area; the skin has a total area of around 20 square feet. The skin is composed of three layers- the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and provides a ‘waterproof barrier’ and gives us our skin tone. The dermis is the layer beneath the epidermis and contains a tough connective tissue, hair follicles and sweat glands. The hypodermis is deep subcutaneous tissue that is made of fat and connective tissue.
The skin is responsible for protecting us from germs/microbes/bacteria and the elements. The skin is also able to help with temperature regulation and allows for the sensation of touch, heat and cold. The skin’s colour is made through a special set of cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin; the more melanin that is produced, the darker the tone of the skin tends to be. Melanocytes can be found in the epidermis.
The sense of touch and sensation is an important function of the skin. There is a vast network of nerve cells that communicate and work with one another to detect minute changes in the environment. Some nerve cells are there for the detection of touch, whilst others are there for detecting temperature and others are there for pain.
Most Common Skin Problems
As mentioned, the skin is a vast organ that is essentially covering up all our other vital organs and it is classed as the first barrier of defense to prevent and shield us from any negative environmental factors. The skin is therefore likely to be susceptible to damage, infection and many other ailments. Most commonly, your skin is likely to have the odd graze or cut, but since the layers are constantly renewing anything minor tends to heal up relatively quickly without leaving a scar.
Another common skin condition is skin dehydration or sun damage due to excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation that are expelled from our sun. Those with skin types 1 and 2 are most susceptible to sun damage and therefore protection should always be worn on particularly sunny days (regardless of temperature). Sun damage can lead to a variety of benign to malignant skin cancers, freckles and wrinkling at a young age. Really cold weather can also dry out the skin, so it is important to wear barrier creams or ointments and moisturise during the winter to ensure your skin remains smooth.
There are many more skin problems that can occur, which are very common, such as psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, acne and cold sores. Cloud Pharmacy can offers a range of treatments to help protect and take care of your skin.
How Can I Take Care of My skin?
Your skin is an incredibly strong and durable organ that is capable of renewing and replacing itself over and over again. This renewal process slows down as we get older due to the ‘speed’ of our cells slowing down over time and to help preserve our skin and ensure it remains ‘youthful’ as time passes it is important to take care of it to keep it healthy. It is important to wash on a regular basis to clear any sweat, dirt or dead skin cells that are present on the surface. Exfoliation can aid in clearing away the layer of dead skin that will naturally shed over time to reveal the softer ‘new skin’ beneath.
Although the skin is a complex organ, it is relatively easy to maintain. By drinking a good amount of water, ensuring that it does not get exposed to unhealthy doses of radiation from the sun through the use of sun creams and stopping it from becoming dehydrated by using moisturisers you can be sure that your skin will likely remain healthy.
If you do suffer from chronic skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and you wish to ask for advice on what product is suitable for you, you can contact Cloud Pharmacy and a member of our medical team will be sure to guide you through the consultation process.
