Skin Fundamentals 101: Why do we have skin?

The skin is a fascinating structure in itself.  It is, in fact, the largest organ of the human body.  Our skin protects us from the day to day exposure of the environment's pollution, UV rays and toxins. Needless to say, without our skin we wouldn't be able to function as we do on a daily basis.

The skin has six primary functions: protection, heat regulation, sensation, excretion, secretion and absorption.

The epidermis is the outermost layer that we visibly see on our bodies.  This layer is comprised of five sub layers.  Surprisingly, the epidermis is very thin (0.04 mm to 1.5 mm). To put this in perspective, a penny is 1.5 mm thick!

The acid mantle, also found in the epidermis, has an average pH of 5.5.  This is why "pH balanced" products are important for the health of our skin. Higher pH levels, typically above pH 7, will disrupt the natural acidic environment of the acid mantle. The acid mantle is apart of the skin's natural barrier function. It prevents water loss from the skin and irritation. Damage to this layer leads to many skin concerns from aging, dehydration and sensitivities.

Our bodies have an internal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. When it is hot or cold outside, the body is able to regulate its internal temperature by perspiration, evaporation, radiation and insulation. After a workout or during summer months, we experience sweating or perspiration. The sweat then evaporates on the surface of  the skin, cooling our bodies. In cooler climates, our body fat helps to insulate and warm the body.

Our senses play an important role in our daily lives. The nerve endings in the skin are responsible for us being able to tell the difference between hot and cold, pressure and pain. There are millions of sensory nerve endings on the skin's surface and are most abundant in the finger tips. These nerve endings sends messages to our brain as a positive or negative sensation.

The skin releases perspiration and detoxifies the body through sweat; releasing salt, water, and other unwanted chemicals in the body through the pores.

There are millions of people who are unable to excrete sweat. The medical terminology for this is anhidrosis or hypohidrosis. When a person is unable to perspire, the body is susceptible to overheating.  This can lead to a heat stroke, which can be life-threatening.

Secretion and excretion can sometimes be confused with one another.  The body produces sebum, an oily substance, via the sebaceous glands.  Sebum is what helps lubricate the skin, keeps it soft, and protects from outside elements.  Since the body is 50-70% water, sebum assists in reducing trans-epidermal water loss and helps maintain water levels in our cells.

It is necessary for our body to be able to absorb certain ingredients, water, and oxygen for optimum skin health. For instance, Vitamin D is synthesized and produced in the skin through exposure to the sun.

Some ingredients in your skincare products are selectively absorbed into the cells, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands. Typically, the smaller the molecular weight, the more ability to penetrate in the skin. Penetration also depends on the type of ingredients used. Oil soluble products are able to penetrate better since they are closer to the composition of sebum. Skin absorption helps to keep the skin moisturized.

Now you can see why our skin is the largest organ in our body.  It plays so many vital roles to our everyday life! Love the skin you're in...always!