Anatomy of The Skin
Skin Facts
Body organs are not all internal like your brain or heart. There is one you wear on the outside and it is your skin. The largest human organ, adults carry approximately eight pounds and 22 square feet of skin. This fleshy covering does a lot more than make you look presentable however. The fact is, without your skin you would literally evaporate.
Your skin is a flexible membranous tissue or integument that forms the external covering of your body. It operates as a complex organ of numerous structures, called the integumentary system, performing vital protective and metabolic functions. It helps regulate your body’s temperature; stores water, fat, and Vitamin D; prevents entry of bacteria; and acts as a sensory organ.
Throughout your life, your skin will change for better or worse. In fact, your skin will regenerate itself approximately every 27 days and proper care and treatment is essential to maintaining the health and vitality of this crucial protection. Human skin has remarkable self-healing properties, particularly when only the epidermis is damaged. Even when the injury damages the dermis, healing may still be complete if the wounded area occurs in a part of the body with a rich blood supply. Deeper wounds, penetrating to the underlying tissue, heal by scar formation.
Over the course of your life, you should pay attention to all parts of your skin. You know that your skin is made up of skin cells but you probably didn’t realize that you have approximately 19 million skin cells on every square inch of skin. You should familiarize yourself with your skin so you will notice any changes that might occur, such as different moles or patches that might require further attention from your dermatologist.
Your skin has three main functions:
1. Protective – your skin’s main job is to insulate and protect your body against invasion by bacteria and other foreign things.
2. Sensory – your skin can sense five different kinds of stimulation: touch, pressure, heat, cold, and pain.
3. Regulatory – your skin helps to control your body temperature by distributing heat through your skin and by preventing dehydration.
Some people believe having a tan will protect their skin from getting a sunburn. This is not true. A tan is your skin’s response to damage from UV radiation. When skin is exposed to the sun, it produces a brown pigment or coloring called melanin. This coloring actually indicates skin damage and is your skin’s way of trying to block the sun’s damaging rays.
Skin Anatomy Overview
Your skin is the largest organ of your body, and your skin’s anatomy reveals a lot of information about you to the rest of the world. Unlike your other organs, your skin is on permanent display. It is literally the face you show to the world and how our skin functions internally is something we take for granted. The pressing concern most of us have is more superficial; we care about how our skin looks. We spend more time and money caring for our skin than any other body part but keeping our skin healthy is worth the effort and not just for the benefit of onlookers. The proper care of our skin will keep our body from harm in many ways skin is often considered the most accurate barometer of your general wellbeing and your age.
No organ in the human body contributes more to the human experience than the skin. A clear, smooth, and glowing complexion is what we all seek. Some of us are lucky enough to have it naturally while others have to actively pursue it. Whether you are trying to improve your complexion or just keep the one you have, schedule an appointment today with Dr. Maxine Tabas and she will help you understand how your skin works, what it is made up of, and what is actually happening when your skin starts to age. Keeping your skin looking fantastic may not seem possible but with careful preventive measures and a few effective cures currently available today, great-looking skin can be yours at any age.
If you are concerned about the way your skin is aging, rest assured that a great deal of your skin’s fate is under your control. If your skin is older and you want it to look younger again, you should focus on repair. Whereas young skin is resilient enough to withstand wear and tear, more mature complexions are quick to register fluctuations in health, diet, exercise and sleep patterns. In theory, we could all prevent our skin from wrinkling if you could protect your face from the sun all the time. It would remain young looking and wrinkle-free into old age but since this is impossible; it is time to take a new approach to your beauty maintenance routine.
Dr. Maxine Tabas can help you discover a skin care regime that will allow your mirror to betray your age. Choosing a skin care treatment is a personal and sometimes emotional decision. Dr. Tabas will partner with you to create an individualized treatment plan that leaves you feeling comfortable and confident in your choices. Prior to treatment, you will receive a comprehensive consultation and the education you need to make informed decisions. She will guide you through the entire treatment process to ensure the very best outcome because it is her goal to deliver expert care and beautiful results that are perfectly suited to your aesthetic taste. Contact us or call Winter Park Dermatology today.
