You wash it, protect it against the sun or shave every day. Yes, we talk about the skin. However, if you would know its properties, you would change your entire approach towards its care and health. Meet some incredible facts about skin.
Skin — the greatest human organ
Yes, it’s true. Skin is the biggest human organ. If you’d stretch it, it would have 2m². An interesting thing is that it makes 15% of your weight. There are two types of skin: hairy and smooth. The epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous layer are skin layers made of millions of cells. In spite of skin on hands and belly is very similar, its ability to stretch differs significantly. The scared skin has no follicles or sebaceous glands. The thinnest is eyelid skin (it has only 0,02 mm) and the thickest is sole of the foot (1,4 mm).
Hair on the human skin
The hair on skin grows from two to six years. However, every day we lose 20 to 100 of it. Hair is made of a protein called keratin. Did you know where the goosebumps come from? In skin located are arrector pili muscles. These small receptors are responsible for feeling the cold or strong emotions. This is why the hair on your body sometimes rise.
What is skin made of?
Keratin is the main lumber of nails, hair and skin. Each skin layer is made of cells. Every minute even 30 thousand of that die. However, only every 28 days skin regenerates entirely. Are you curious about what happens with the dead skin cells? It makes about 50% of the dust in your house. If you do not tidy up on regular basis, it can end up with allergy. Similar unpleasantness can happen to you if your skin care is incorrect. Washing powder and alcohol damage lipids which are natural fats protecting skin against dryness. This is why for home chores you should use gloves. Also, take care of your hygiene. By washing your skin, you inhibit harmful bacteria proliferation. The good ones live in symbiosis with your organism. There is quite a plenty of those and are responsible for correct pH of given body parts.
What determines skin colour?
Skin colour depends on melanin. Its amount depends on the place of origin: the most melanocytes have inhabitants of Africa and South America. 1 in 110 thousand of people is albino — lack of melanocytes in the skin. What’s very interesting is that the same substance is responsible for iris colour and skin colour.
Skin care
The most common problem for people in every age is acne. It is developed when sebaceous glands are clogged by over-secretion of sebum. Subjected to acne are children, teenagers and adults. To get rid of the issue of spots and improve skin condition, you should take vitamin A for protection against the sun and cellulite, vitamin D for acne reduction, vitamin C which is an antioxidant and vitamin E with anti-ageing action.
