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Your skin is far more than just the surface layer of your body. Without it, many of the essential functions we rely on, like breathing, moving, and maintaining the organization of our inner systems, wouldn't be possible. While skin has evolved to keep harmful invaders at bay, millions of people still spend large amounts of money on products attempting to breach that defense (with mixed results). Keep reading for more captivating insights about your skin.
1. YOUR SKIN COMPRISES THREE DISTINCT LAYERS.
Skin is recognized as a unique organ. It consists of three layers: the topmost waterproof layer known as the epidermis; a middle layer filled with durable connective tissue, hair follicles, and glands called the dermis; and the inner hypodermis, primarily made of fat and connective tissue that supports the skin and connects it to the muscles beneath.
2. SKIN COLOR IS CONTROLLED BY CELLS IN THE EPIDERMIS.
These cells, called melanocytes, produce a pigment known as melanin. The more melanin present, the darker the skin tone. Imbalances in melanin can lead to skin color disorders: On one side, conditions like vitiligo—where some melanocytes lose the ability to produce melanin, causing white patches on the skin—and albinism, a disorder where melanocytes fail to make melanin at all. On the opposite end of the spectrum, hyperpigmentation occurs when there’s too much melanin, leading to darker spots on the skin.
3. YOUR SKIN COULD WEIGH OVER 20 POUNDS.
"Your skin makes up about 15 percent of your total body weight," explains Toral Patel, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and supervising physician at D&A Dermatology in Chicago, as well as a clinical instructor of medicine at Northwestern University. This makes your skin the body's largest organ.
Based on this data and figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average American woman weighing 168.5 pounds carries over 25 pounds of skin, while an average man weighing 195.7 pounds would have almost 30 pounds of skin.
4. YOUR SKIN REGENERATES EVERY 28 TO 30 DAYS.
New skin cells are generated in the deeper layers and take around four weeks to make their way to the surface, where they harden and eventually shed. This cycle of replacing old skin with fresh cells may happen more than 1000 times throughout the average American's life. However, not all skin is the same: Its thickness differs naturally across different parts of the body. Factors such as age, gender, and lifestyle choices (like smoking) can influence the elasticity and other properties of skin cells. As Patel points out, the skin on the soles of your feet is up to seven times thicker than the skin on your eyelids.
5. TATTOOS REMAIN IN PLACE, THANKS TO CELLS CALLED MACROPHAGES.
Even though your skin sheds every month, tattoos remain intact. This is due to a response from your immune system. When the tattoo needle punctures the dermis, the middle layer of the skin, it triggers inflammation. White blood cells known as macrophages rush in to aid in healing. These macrophages 'consume' the tattoo pigment and can pass it on to newer macrophages as they die, effectively transferring the pigment from one cell to the next. Any remaining pigment is absorbed by fibroblasts, long-lasting skin cells that don’t regenerate frequently. Only tattoo removal lasers are powerful enough to eliminate the macrophages and fibroblasts that hold the pigment.
6. YOUR SKIN IS HOME TO BILLIONS OF MICROORGANISMS.
Your skin is home to a microbiome that can host over 1000 different types of bacteria, along with other microorganisms, viruses, and pathogens. These 'mini ecosystems,' as Patel describes them, consist mainly of beneficial bacteria that cooperate with our bodies for various helpful tasks, including wound healing, reducing skin inflammation, and supporting the immune system in fighting infections. While it was once believed that these bacteria outnumbered your own cells by a ratio of 10 to 1, newer research shows that the ratio is actually closer to 1:1.
7. ANCIENT EGYPTIANS USED SALT (AND OTHER FOOD ITEMS) FOR WOUND CARE.
When the dermis layer of the skin, located beneath the epidermis, is injured, it exposes deeper tissues to pathogens. To prevent infections from spreading further into the skin, fat, or muscle, ancient Egyptians treated wounds with salt, fresh meat, moldy bread, and onions.
Though these remedies might seem unorthodox today, modern studies have revealed their effectiveness. Meat, rich in iron, acted as a coagulant to stop bleeding, especially effective in the first stage of wound care, as stated in a 2016 study published in the Journal of the German Society of Dermatology. Salt and onions, being astringent, could constrict blood vessels, halting bleeding. The moldy bread probably had antibacterial properties, an early form of penicillin. Wounds were later sealed with oils, fats, honey, and plant fibers.
8. YOUR BODY'S FLUID BALANCE RELIES ON YOUR SKIN.
Your skin serves as a vital defense against countless tiny microbes and pathogens. Just as crucial, it helps to retain bodily fluids. Patel compares your skin to a brick-and-mortar structure: the cells act as bricks, while the mortar consists of lipids, fatty acids, and sticky proteins that form a waterproof barrier. 'When there are any 'holes' in the skin, allowing moisture to escape, it makes the skin more vulnerable to damage, leading to dryness, cracks, and inflammation,' Patel explains.
People with severe burns often experience problems with fluid balance, says Robert T. Brodell, M.D., a professor of dermatology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. 'Fluids escape from the body, and they struggle to maintain internal balance,' Brodell tells Mytour. This can be extremely dangerous, as fluid loss may lead to the heart failing to pump blood throughout the body. Dehydration, hypertension, and other complications are also common after skin damage.
9. CERTAIN SKIN CONDITIONS CAN INCREASE YOUR RISK FOR OTHER DISEASES.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder where skin cells grow rapidly in affected areas, causing excessive skin buildup, inflammation, and a red, scaly rash. While living with this condition can be challenging on its own, research [PDF] has shown that skin inflammation can trigger inflammation in other tissues and internal organs, ultimately leading to various diseases. Psoriasis, for example, has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, Crohn's disease, metabolic syndrome, and other conditions associated with inflammation.
Patel emphasizes the importance of treatment, saying, 'When one organ is inflamed, it's crucial to ensure that others remain unaffected.'
10. YOUR LEGS COULD BE THE DRIEST PART OF YOUR BODY.
If you're not living in a tropical climate, you may have noticed that your lower legs become drier in winter—and there's a reason for that. 'Your legs have fewer oil glands than any other area of your body,' says Brodell, as he explains to Mytour. Oil (or sebaceous) glands, located at the boundary of the dermis and epidermis, produce a natural oily substance called sebum that keeps your skin and hair lubricated. As we age, the output of oil decreases, resulting in drier skin. Additionally, the winter's low humidity and our increased time around heating elements can dry the skin further.
The remedy? Consider using a humidifier or applying a good moisturizer. Be cautious with skincare products containing emulsifiers like sodium laureth sulfate, as they can dry out or irritate your skin—so always check the labels.
11. WITHOUT SWEAT GLANDS, OVERHEATING CAN BE A DANGER.
Both types of sweat glands are situated in the dermis. Eccrine glands, spread across the body, release sweat directly through the pores of the epidermis. Apocrine glands, which release sweat along hair follicles, are concentrated in areas with more hair—like the scalp, armpits, and groin. Both types play a key role in regulating body temperature: in hot conditions, they release a combination of water and fatty liquids to help cool the skin.
A lack of sweat glands increases the risk of overheating. People with a condition called anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia often have few or no sweat glands, preventing them from cooling off effectively when their body temperature rises. 'They are highly vulnerable to heatstroke,' says Brodell. Additionally, some individuals with this condition also experience immunodeficiency, leading to lower levels of antibodies and immune T- and B-cells, which makes them more susceptible to skin and lung infections.
12. YOUR GUT AND SKIN WORK IN HARMONY.
Although the gut and skin never physically interact, studies indicate that the health of your gut plays a significant role in your skin's condition.
'The skin becomes severely compromised when the gut microbiome experiences dysbiosis,' meaning when harmful agents disrupt the gut’s beneficial bacteria, explains Gregory Maguire, Ph.D., former professor of neuroscience at UC San Diego and the founder and chief scientific officer of BioRegenerative Sciences, a stem-cell technology company.
Dysbiosis can cause inflammation, irritation, rashes, and discomfort. 'There is strong evidence linking conditions like eczema [or] atopic dermatitis to dysbiosis of both the gut and skin,' he adds.
In a 2017 paper published in the Archives of Dermatological Research, Maguire highlights that the gut's normal bacteria can actually help soothe the body's stress response. A decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone believed to trigger breakouts, also lowers the likelihood of skin irritation—all thanks to the beneficial microbes in your gut.
13. SCIENTISTS ARE EXPLOITING 'GOOD' BACTERIA TO COMBAT ACNE.
When the skin's pores become blocked with sebum from sebaceous glands and dead skin cells—a condition often linked to hormonal shifts—you get acne. If these clogged pores remain closed, they form whiteheads; if the pore opens up to reveal the debris, it turns into a blackhead. (The medical term for a blackhead, 'open comedo,' is derived from a Latin expression referring to 'worms that consume the body.' But don’t worry, blackheads are not actual worms living on your face.)
While acne is often seen as a common part of growing up, researchers are investigating how 'good' bacteria (probiotics) can counteract 'bad' bacteria, like Propiobacterium acnes, which is linked to acne flare-ups. 'Probiotics help break down substances on the skin like ammonia and nitrites, turning them into other chemicals that benefit the skin's stem cells,' explains Maguire. A 2015 study in the Journal of Women's Dermatology and other research have shown that applying topical probiotics, such as Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus thermophiles, can suppress P. acnes and potentially improve the skin's ability to resist future breakouts.
