Skin Facts – Everything You Wanted to Know

August 12, 2019
skin facts

Skin Facts – Everything You Wanted to Know

Did you know that skin is the largest organ in the human body? We have a little over 20 square feet of skin! The average person sheds about 100 pounds of skin during their life. Is skin a topic that you have wanted to know more about? Is it a topic that you already know very well? Continue reading to learn all about skin facts!

What is Skin?

Skin is the protective layer of cells that covers our entire body and is made up of a few different layers. The different layers of skin include the epidermis, dermis, and subcutis. Combined, these layers cover our entire body. Our skin, the largest organ in the body, protects our bones, muscles, ligaments, and veins from injury. It’s semi-permeable which means that small molecules can move in and out. This allows water to pass through the skin cells. This allows our bodies to be hydrated, and during homeostasis, able to perspire, or have sweat pass through our pores. Sometimes our pores become blocked because our skin holds onto little pieces of debris, either causing blackheads, or a small infection commonly referred to as acne or pimples. Our skin is a great indicator of what is happening inside our body. There might be an ailment on the surface that we can see through a rash, hives, burns, warts, or maybe even herpes. If our skin is rough and dry it can be an indicator that we are not getting enough water which can lead to dehydration and heatstroke. For other diseases, different colors may present different things. Some conditions have the skin turn yellow as in jaundice which can indicate something terrible. If you think your skin looks abnormal, please consult your primary care physician or a dermatologist immediately.

What is Oily Skin?

People with oily skin tend to secrete more oil on their face than those who don’t. This means that they are more prone to having skin blemishes, acne, pimples, and blackheads than people with dry skin. Oily skin happens when the sebaceous glands produce a lot of sebum. People who have oily skin are encouraged to wash their face regularly and may even be given acidic medicine to remove excess oil.

What Does Dry Skin Mean?

Dry skin means that your body is not producing enough moisture for your skin. It’s characterized by scales, cracks, roughness, ashy color, and redness, and can even bleed. Sometimes dry skin is caused by a cold or dry environment, exposure to chlorine from swimming, washing your hands too frequently, and maybe even hormones. You can sometimes get rid of dry skin by moisturizing with lotion, drinking more fluids, wearing gloves, or not using harsh cleaners. If you have chronic dry skin, make an appointment with a doctor and see what they can do to help.

Abnormal Skin Conditions

Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Unfortunately, there are some diseases that severely impact the lifestyle of people. People who have XP can not be exposed to ultraviolet radiation because it causes severe sun damage. People with xeroderma pigmentosum need to be in a room with artificial light. Sunlight or UV radiation causes their skin to burn, an abundance of freckles to appear, and has been known to lead to skin cancer. Those individuals who have XP frequently feel alone, and as if they are isolated and cannot participate in normal activities. Please let us know in the comments if you know someone who has had XP.

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

This is possibly one of the most uncomfortable-sounding skin diseases. Two exotoxins are released to make the skin red and blistered. This disease is transmitted by touch usually within newborns. Treatment may take 5-7 days and is easily treated with an antibiotic. If left untreated, the patient can die.

The Case of the Blue Man

A few generations ago there was a family that continually had incest relations with each other in the south. This resulted in a genetic mutation that turned their skin a bluish tinge. The man had said that whenever he gets emotional, the skin turns a darker shade of blue. He was on a string of talk shows to talk about his condition. He claimed it was only surface level and just cosmetic. Do you think that’s really interesting?

How to Properly Take Care of Your Skin

Sometimes, people who have great skin just happen to have really good genetics. However, there are a few things that the average person can do to take care of their skin, especially is aesthetics are important to them. The first step to maintaining great skin is to continually be hydrated. Make sure that you drink the recommended daily dose of 8 cups of water a day. Another helpful tip is to make sure that you get your beauty rest. When we sleep, our tissues have time to regenerate.

Making sure that you’re eating well is also important. Everyone has a different diet, but remember to eat well, and avoid junk food, alcohol, and even smoking! Smoking has been proven to quickly age people by the carcinogens in the smoke, and repetitive mouth movements can cause permanent fine lines around the mouth. Always wear sunscreen, and avoid the sun’s rays which are damaging to human skin. And unfortunately, sometimes you can’t control your hormones which have a lot to do with the nature of your skin.

Some Fun Skin Facts

  • Skin is the largest organ in the body
  • The average human will shed over 150 pounds of skin in their life
  • Dust is mostly made up of dead skin cells
  • The skin care industry is worth over 130 billion dollars
  • We have about 35 billion skin cells in total
  • Bob Marley died of Melanoma under his toe
  • It takes 28 days for the skin to regenerate itself
  • There are 5 pain receptors on your skin

Final Thoughts

Have you ever had one of these skin conditions that has been mentioned above? Did you know all of the different skin facts? Do you take measures to take care of your skin?

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