Skin Support Remedy
Skin is your body's biggest organ. It is one of the most important parts of the body because it interfaces with the environment and is the first line of defense from external factors. For example, the skin plays a key role in protecting the body against pathogens and excessive water loss. Its other functions are insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, and the production of vitamin D folates.
The skin is made up of three layers, each with its own important parts. The layer on the outside is called the epidermis. It's the part you can see. The epidermis is always hard at work forming new skin cells. When the cells are ready, they start moving toward the top of the epidermis. This trip takes between 2-4 weeks. As newer cells continue to move up, older cells near the top die and rise to the surface of your skin.
Most of the cells in your epidermis (95%) work to make new skin cells. The other 5% make a substance called melanin. Melanin gives skin its color. The darker your skin is, the more melanin you have. When you go out into the sun, these cells make extra melanin to protect you from getting burned by the sun's ultraviolet, or UV, rays.
The next layer down is the dermis. The dermis is hidden under the epidermis. The dermis contains nerve endings, blood vessels, oil glands, and sweat glands. It also contains collagen and elastin, which are tough and stretchy. The nerve endings in your dermis tell you how things feel when you touch them. They work with your brain and nervous system, so that your brain gets the message about what you're touching. Your dermis is also full of tiny blood vessels. These keep your skin cells healthy by bringing them the oxygen and nutrients they need and by taking away waste. As the dermis gets older, it gets thinner and easier to see through.
The dermis is home to the oil glands, also called sebaceous glands, and they are always producing sebum. Sebum is your skin's own natural oil. It rises to the surface of the epidermis to keep your skin lubricated and protected. It also makes your skin waterproof - because of sebum, your skin won't absorb water and get soggy. The epidermis also has sweat glands. The sweat comes up through pores in the skin that allow it to escape. When the sebum meets the sweat, they form a sticky protective film. The subcutis (or hypodermis) is the deepest layer of your skin. It stores fat, contains blood vessels, hair follicle roots and nerves.
Fun Facts
- What you see on your hands (and everywhere else on your body) are really dead skin cells.
- You probably lose 40,000 cells (that's almost 9 pounds, or4 kilograms) every year!
- A large amount of the dust in your home is actually dead skin!
- The color of human skin depends on the amount of pigment melanin that the body produces. Small amounts of melanin result in light skin while large amounts result in dark skin.
- Areas that experience repeated friction or pressure can form tough, thick skin known as a callus. Check out the fingertips of guitarists.
Health Conditions
- Acne is a skin condition that causes pimples or zits, including whiteheads, blackheads, etc.
- Callous is an area of skin generally hardened or thickened because of continual rubbing of the same area.
- Dermatitis is a long-term (chronic) skin disorder that involves skin inflammation with scaly and itchy rashes.
- Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin).
- Hives, correctly called urticaria, is a kind of skin rash characterized by pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives are frequently caused by allergic reactions and dehydration.
- Lichen planus is a disease that affects the skin, tongue, and oral mucosa sometimes associated with certain medications and diseases.
- Pityriasis rosea (also known as pityriasis rosea Gibert) is a skin rash (look to allergies).
- Psoriasis is a red, itchy rash. It is an autoimmune disease where the body sheds skin as much as 7000 faster than normal.
- Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that makes your face turn red and may cause swelling and skin sores that look like acne.
- Shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.
- Sunburn is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation that burns the living tissue.
- Warts are small, usually painless growths on the skin caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).
Suggestions To Strengthen (same as Sinus)
- While the skin has nothing to do with digestion, it is an organ that will reflect the health of the elimination system, particularly the colon and also the kidney, so clean them up.
- Look at food allergies as they can irritate the colon and show in the skin. Dairy and gluten would be the first to try eliminating.
- If you are a female with skin issues, try the female formulas to get hormones balanced. If hormones cause skin issues, you can almost be certain of liver congestion as well, so balance both.
- Direct sun for more than 20 minutes, or what it takes to see light pink is destructive to the skin.
- Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients, such as vitamin A, that are important to skin health. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin - fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity.