Feel Comfortable In Your Own Skin!
- sbb199
- May 1, 2013
- 3 min read
Overview
The skin is the largest organ of the body with 3 defining layers: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. This integumentary system serves several purposes, such as, barrier to UV light, vitamin D synthesis, sensory receptors, sweating, and resistance to trauma/infection to name a few.
Skin
The three layers of the skin play an important role in daily life. The Epidermis is composed of 5 layers: stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, and stratum basale. These layers contain keratinocytes, which waterproof the skin, and melanocytes, which give the skin its pigment, determining our skin color. The Dermis is composed of papillae that extend into the Epidermis and form the ridges of fingerprints. The Hypodermis contains subcutaneous tissue (mostly adipose or fat tissue) that function as cushioning and thermoregulation for the body.
Hair
In addition to forming a waterproof skin barrier, keratin also makes up hair follicles within the skin. Each of these follicles is connected to piloerector muscles that contract when the body is cold as a mechanism to warm the body up. Hairs also serve as protection; for example, eyelashes, nose, ear, and pubic hairs keep foreign debris away from their designated areas. When hair begins to thin or fall out this is known as Alopecia. Contrarily, Hirsutism is the abnormal growth of hair due to hormone imbalance, especially on woman.
Personal Hygiene
There are two types of cutaneous or skin glands. Sudiferous (sweat) glands secrete filtrate plasma and some waste products onto the surface on the skin, and secrete about 500 mL of insensible perspiration per day. Merocrine sweat glands keep the body cool while exercising by secreting sweat, which is why it is important to rehydrate in order to replenish fluids lost. Apocrine sweat glands are located in the armpits and groin regions. They secrete sweat containing fatty acids that interact with bacterium on these parts of the body and create odor, making it important to shower and upkeep personal hygiene to regulate this odor. Sebaceous (oil) glands secrete sebum that contains broken-down cells into ducts that open into hair follicles. When these hair follicles become plugged with accumulation of epithelial cells, keratin, sebum, and bacteria, inflammation occurs causing acne.
Skin Cancer
One of the most prominent causes for skin cancer is the unprotected exposure to the sun’s UV rays. The least dangerous is Basal Cell Carcinoma, which invades the dermis. Second is Squamous Cell Carcinoma that arises from keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum and metastasizes to the lymph nodes. The most deadly form of skin cancer that often arises form melanocytes of a mole is called Malignant Melanoma. In order to determine if a mole is cancerous or not the ABCD rule is used: A(symmetry), two sides of pigmented mole do not match; B(order irregularity), borders of mole aren’t smooth; C(olor), different colors in pigmented area; and D(iameter), spot is larger than 6 mm in diameter. To prevent skin cancer you should always wear sunscreen when going outside and make sure to get regular dermatology checkups.
Burns
Sunscreen not only protects the body from skin cancer but burns as well. First-degree burns can be categorized as sunburns or other burns that invade the epidermis and cause the skin to turn red. Second-degree burns invade both the epidermis and dermis and cause the skin to become red and blistered. Third-degree burns are the most severe and invade all three layers of the skin, which causes the tissue necrosis and nerve damage in very serious cases.
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