1 / 19

The Skin Though the Microscope

VJ. The Skin Though the Microscope. Most of us think of our skin in terms of “How we look.” A healthy skin not only looks well but performs vital body functions more efficiently. The skin is basically a wrapping which protects the encased organism.

hayden
Download Presentation

The Skin Though the Microscope

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. VJ

  2. The Skin Though the Microscope

  3. Most of us think of our skin in terms of “How we look.” A healthy skin not only looks well but performs vital body functions more efficiently. The skin is basically a wrapping which protects the encased organism.

  4. As early as the 16th century, men such as Vesalius began to recognize the importance of certain parts of the human body – the muscles, bones, the heart and lungs – but they failed to recognize the skin as an organ which performs vital body fuctions.

  5. Even during the Italian Renaissance with its great advances in science and the arts, there was little knowledge of the skin. The great palaces had no washing facilities at all.

  6. What is the color of the blood in the arteries? Veins?

  7. Facts about the skin:The skin is the body’s largest organ, covering the entire body. In addition to serving as a protective shield against heat, light, injury, and infection, the skin also: • regulates body temperature. • stores water and fat. • is a sensory organ. • prevents water loss. • prevents entry of bacteria.

  8. Throughout the body, the skin's characteristics vary (i.e., thickness, color, texture). For instance, the head contains more hair follicles than anywhere else, while the soles of the feet contain none. In addition, the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands are much thicker. • The skin is made up of the following layers, with each layer performing specific functions: • epidermis • dermis • subcutaneous fat layer • epidermisThe epidermis is the thin outer layer of the skin which consists of the following three parts: • stratum corneum (horny layer)This layer consists of fully mature keratinocytes which contain fibrous proteins (keratins). The outermost layer is continuously shed. The stratum corneum prevents the entry of most foreign substances as well as the loss of fluid from the body. • keratinocytes (squamous cells)This layer, just beneath the stratum corneum, contains living keratinocytes (squamous cells), which mature and form the stratum corneum. • basal layerThe basal layer is the deepest layer of the epidermis, containing basal cells. Basal cells continually divide, forming new keratinocytes, replacing the old ones that are shed from the skin’s surface. • The epidermis also contains melanocytes, which are cells that produce melanin (skin pigment). Hair, scales, claws, hooves, fingernails, teeth are all part of the epidermis.

  9. dermisThe dermis is the middle layer of the skin. The dermis contains the following: • blood vessels • lymph vessels • hair follicles • sweat glands • collagen bundles • fibroblasts • nerves • The dermis is held together by a protein called collagen, made by fibroblasts. This layer also contains pain and touch receptors.The sebaceous glands are responsible for the excretion of the skin's natural oil (sebum). There are two types of sweat glands. The apocrine sweat glands fail to open directly onto the skin surface, but drain into large hair follicles. They are located near the armpits and around the genitalia, while the second type, the eccrine sweat glands, are distributed over the skins entire surface. The secretion of the apocrine differs to that of the eccrine; it is thick and creamy in contrast to the watery solution of the eccrine glands. These glands aid in the removal of dirt and oil from the pores, help to regulate body temperature and also maintain the skin's PH balance. • subcutisThe subcutis is the deepest layer of skin. The subcutis, consisting of a network of collagen and fat cells, helps conserve the body’s heat and protects the body from injury by acting as a "shock absorber."

  10. The Ageing Process • Aging is an inevitable fact of life. No matter how hard we attempt to avoid or eliminate it, the aging process continues to gnaw away at each and every one of us on a daily basis. However, this gradual but certain fact of reality need not be cursed upon. To appreciate the aging process you must firstly gain an understanding of how we as humans age. After all, the skin is the largest organ of the body therefore we must all endeavor to nourish and protect it.

  11. Why Do We Age? • Over the years wrinkles develop and we begin to notice our skin aging. These wrinkles are a result of damaged supporting tissue, the dermis. The dermis contains water, fat and cells, which aid in the production of two very important fibres, collagen and elastin. It is these fortifying fibres that give the skin firmness and elasticity. As we age, the dermis retains less water and fat - the skin ceases to look plump, fewer supporting fibres are produced - the skin is less resilient, oil flow slows considerably - the skin is drier, and tiny capillaries beneath the skin close off - the skin receives less oxygen and minimal nutrients. Cell renewal rate also slows, therefore the development of new cells takes longer, while old cells remain longer on the surface of the skin. The result of this rather simple process is, older looking skin showing visible creases, spots and sags.

  12. Protecting Your Skin • We all need to protect and look after our skin on a daily basis. There are many factors that influence aging and the awareness of these factors is essential if we are to avoid or at least monitor them. Stress, pollution, drugs, alcohol, cigarette smoking, improper nutrition, lack of sleep and ultra violet radiation play havoc on our lifestyle, which in turn stresses the skin tremendously and causes free radicals to attack the body. Free radical damage contributes greatly to the aging process by destroying healthy cells and damaging tissue. Free radicals are molecules of oxygen with unpaired electrons that desperately roam the body in search of normal healthy cells to latch onto. Once this attachment process takes place, oxidation begins - rather like metal rusting during weather exposure. Oxidation occurs most readily in fats, therefore cell membranes rich in fat, are prime targets.

  13. Sun Exposure and Heat • Sun exposed areas of the skin seem to show more wrinkles, spots, blemishes and pigment changes than covered areas. This aging and discoloration of the skin is believed to be caused by sun damage to the dermal connective tissue, resulting in the skins lose of elasticity and collagen. Dermal connective tissue that has been affected by ultra violet radiation (UVR) is not as firm or as resilient as normal connective tissue, therefore the surrounding blood vessels lack support. To protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays, slather sunscreen on all exposed areas whenever you step outside. Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, and one which blocks both UVA and UVB rays - a broad spectrum sunscreen. Ultra violet radiation can also penetrate and damage skin through clouds and glass, therefore remember to apply sunblock during winter and while driving. Sit in the shade whenever possible and avoid heat on the surface of the skin.

  14. Smoking & Drugs • Smoking, drugs and alcohol encourage the invasion of free radicals, therefore these substances must be avoided whenever possible. Red wine consumed in moderation however, can be very beneficial to the skin due to a good supply of grape antioxidants. Smoking, on the other hand, deprives the skin of normal blood flow and also interferes in the healing process following cosmetic surgery on the skin. A smoker's face tends to show more lines and wrinkles than the face of a non-smoker; the skin may appear slightly gray, have a leathery or rugged appearance or a subtle gauntness.

More Related