Introduction
The human skin is a natural dress over the body. It is not merely a natural
dress but it interfaces with the environment and plays highly important role by
protecting our body as an immunizer against pathogens and excessive water loss
by the outer covering of the body. It is astonishing fact that human skin is the
largest organ of the integumentary (pertaining to a natural protective covering,
of an outer coating) system For the average adult human, the skin has a surface
area of between 1.5-2.0 square meters (16.1-21.5 sq ft.), most of it between 2–3
mm (0.10 inch) thick. The average square inch (6.5 cm²) of skin holds 650 sweat
glands, 20 blood vessels, 60,000 melanocytes (pigment cells, cells which produce
melanin), and more than 1,000 nerve endings.
Structure and composition human skin
Skin is composed of three primary layers:
• The epidermis, (the outermost layer is called epidermis), which provides
waterproofing and serves as a barrier to infection; this consists mainly of
cells called keratinocytes (main cells of the epidermis that make up
approximately 90% of epidermal cells), made from the tough protein keratin (also
the material in hair and nails). Keratinocytes form several layers that
constantly grow outwards as the exterior cells die and flake off.
• The dermis, which serves as a location for the appendages (something which is
attached or added; supplement) of skin; It contains the hair follicles, sweat
glands, sebaceous glands, apocrine glands, lymphatic vessels and blood vessels.
• The hypodermis {subcutaneous adipose layer(the hypodermis contains 50% of body
fat)}. Fat serves as padding and insulation for the body.
It is almost similar to that of most other mammals, except that it is not
protected by a fur. Though almost all human skin is covered with hair follicles
{a hair follicle is a mammalian skin organ that produces hair. Hair production
occurs in phases, including growth (anagen), cessation (catagen), and rest (telogen)
phases. Stem cells are responsible for hair production} however, it can appear
hairless. There are two general types of skin, hairy and glabrous or smooth
skin.
Basic Functions of Skin
Marks, James G; Miller, Jeffery in their marvelous book ' Principles of
Dermatology’ (4th ed-2006), Lookingbill and Marks. Elsevier Inc. have enumerated
following nine functions of human skin including its three main functions, i.e.,
protection, regulation and sensation :-
1. Protection: Human skin has multiple layers of ectodermal (with external
layer) tissue and guards the underlying muscles, veins, arteries, capillaries
(very small blood vessels) bones, ligaments (flexible tissue which connects
bones and cartilage and supports organs) and internal organs of the body. It is
an anatomical barrier from pathogens and damage between the internal and
external environment in bodily defense
2. Sensation: contains a variety of nerve endings that react to heat and cold,
touch, pressure, vibration, and tissue injury.
3. Heat regulation: the skin contains a blood supply far greater than its
requirements which allows precise control of energy loss by radiation,
convection and conduction. Dilated blood vessels increase perfusion and heat
loss, while constricted vessels greatly reduce cutaneous (2nd underlying skin
layer beneath epidermis is dermis) blood flow and conserve heat.
4. Control of evaporation: the skin provides a relatively dry and
semi-impermeable (impassable) barrier to fluid loss. Loss of this function
contributes to the massive fluid loss in burns.
5. Aesthetics and communication: other people can guess and assess the condition
of our skin our mood, mental & physical state and attractiveness. For instance
in severe anger or aggression flushing our face, in severe shock or trauma pale
and lusterless skin, etc.
6. Storage and synthesis: acts as a storage center for lipids and water, as well
as a means of synthesis of vitamin D with Sun light by the action of ultraviolet
radiation (UV) on certain parts of the skin.
7. Excretion: sweat contains urea; however its concentration is 1/130th that of
urine, hence excretion by sweating is at most a secondary function to
temperature regulation.
8. Absorption: 0.25–0.40 mm cells comprising the outermost of epidermis layer of
the skin are almost exclusively supplied by external oxygen, although the
contribution to total respiration is negligible . In addition, medicine can be
administered through the skin, by ointments or by means of adhesive patch.
9. Water resistance: The skin acts as a water resistant barrier so essential
nutrients aren't washed out of the body.
As narrated above that besides protecting our body as an immunizer against
pathogens and excessive water loss the outer covering of the body, its other
functions are insulation, temperature regulation with its pores and sweat
glands, sensation, synthesis of vitamin D with Sun light and the protection of
vitamin B folates (water soluble vitamin B or folic acid). Allah (SWT) has
bestowed our skin to the extent that severely damaged skin will try to heal by
forming scar tissue scar tissue. This is often discolored and de-pigmented
(colorless).
As stated earlier that skin has mesodermal cells, pigmentation or melanin
provided by melanocytes which absorb some of the potentially harmful ultraviolet
radiation (UV) in sunlight. Allah (SWT) has again bestowed our skin which also
contains DNA repair enzymes that help to reverse UV harmful damage. Due to some
reasons some people lacking the genes for these enzymes suffer high rates of
skin cancer. One form predominantly produced by UV light, malignant melanoma (a
type of skin tumor /cancer characterized by malignant growth of melanocytes)
Human skin color
Jablonski, Nina, have pointed out in their book ‘Living Color’ University of
California Press. (2012), Berkeley, Los Angeles; that the actual skin color of
different humans is affected by many substances, although the single most
important substance determining human skin color is the pigment melanin. The
skin’s color is created by special cells called melanocytes, which produce the
pigment melanin. Melanocytes are located in the epidermis. The skin color of
people with light skin is determined mainly by the bluish-white connective
tissue under the dermis and by the hemoglobin circulating in the veins of the
dermis. The red color underlying the skin becomes more visible, especially in
the face, when, as consequence of physical exercise or the stimulation of the
nervous system (due to anger, fear, aggression etc), arterioles are dilated.
Human skin shows high skin color variety from the darkest brown to the lightest
pinkish-white hues. Human skin shows higher variation in color than any other
single mammalian species and is the result of natural selection. Skin
pigmentation in humans evolved to primarily regulate the amount of ultraviolet
radiation (UVR) penetrating the skin, controlling its biochemical effects.
There are at least five different pigments that determine the color of the skin.
These pigments are present at different levels and places.
• Melanin: It is brown in color and present in the basal layer of the epidermis
or most outer first layer of the skin.
• Melanoid: It resembles melanin but is present diffusely throughout the
epidermis. It is less significant than melanin.
• Carotene: This pigment is yellow to orange in color. It is present in the
stratum corneum (horny outer layer of the epidermis-the first layer) and fat
cells of dermis (second layer of the skin) and superficial fascia.
• Hemoglobin (also spelled haemoglobin): It is found in blood and is not a
pigment of the skin but develops a purple color.
• Oxyhemoglobin: It is also found in blood and is not a pigment of the skin. It
develops a red color due to oxidation.
It is noteworthy to enunciate that there is a correlation between the geographic
distribution of ultra violet radiation (UVR) and the distribution of indigenous
skin pigmentation around the world. Areas that highlight higher amounts of UVR
reflect darker-skinned populations, generally located nearer towards the
equator. Areas that are far from the tropics and closer to the poles have lower
concentration of UVR, which is reflected in lighter-skinned populations.
Moreover, in human females amongst the same population, it has been observed
that adult human females are considerably lighter in skin pigmentation than
males. As females need more calcium during pregnancy and lactation therefore,
vitamin D, which is synthesized from sunlight helps in absorbing calcium. For
this reason it is thought that females may have evolved to have lighter skin in
order to help their bodies absorb more calcium.
Prior to coming up about effects of aging & environmental factors causing
deterioration of skin’s texture, it is deem necessary at this stage to elaborate
different types of skin.
Different types of human skin
a) Normal Skin
b) Dry skin
c) Oily Skin
d) Combination skin
e) Sensitive skin
f) Mature skin
g) Dehydrated skin
h) Blemished or impaired skin
i) Sallow skin
j) Chapped or dried skin
k) Withered or damaged skin
Now we will discuss and elaborate the different types of skin:-
a) Normal skin
• One hundred percent normal skin is a rare blessing.
• It is smooth, simple clear and fine textured with no visible pores.
• It has an even tone that is not too pale sallow or red.
• It has smooth surface which is neither greasy not dry.
• It looks and feels good to the touch.
• It has a healthy glow and no problem areas.
b) Dry skin
• It looks as near perfect skin.
• It is almost translucent, more to a pink white tone.
• Lines and wrinkles appear very early.
• It may be on the sensitive side.
• It is more vulnerable to the effects of central heating and sun light.
c) Oily skin
• It has coarse or rough open pores and pimples and other embarrassing blemishes
or impairments.
• It has a shinny film usually of yellow in color.
• It may look oily on waking.
• It has tendency to appear spots and black heads.
• It is less susceptible to wrinkles than other skin types.
Elaborating note for oily skin:
According to “Skin care" (analysis), Health-Cares.net, 2007, webpage, oily skin
is caused by over-active sebaceous glands that produce a substance called sebum,
a naturally healthy skin lubricant. When the skin produces excessive sebum, it
becomes heavy and thick in texture. The oily-skin type is not necessarily bad,
since such skin is less prone to wrinkling, or other signs of aging, because the
oil helps to keep needed moisture locked into the epidermis.
The negative aspect of the oily-skin type is that oily complexions are
especially susceptible to clogged pores, blackheads, and buildup of dead skin
cells on the surface of the skin. Oily skin can be sallow and rough in texture
and tends to have large, clearly visible pores everywhere, except around the
eyes and neck.
During adolescence, a surge in the level of sex hormones, known as androgen,
creates a problem of oily skin where sometimes there was none. The reason is
that androgen enlarge and stimulate the sebaceous glands, causing them to
produce more sebum.
d) Combination skin
• It is the most common type of skin.
• It consists of dry cheek area with an oily T-zone (forehead, chin, nose)
• It is difficult to take care of as different areas need to be treated
separately.
e) Sensitive skin
• It looks fragile or weak and translucent.
• It is comparatively thinner around eye area.
• It has uneven or unequal skin tone.
• It may have freckles (small brownish-yellow spots on the skin)
• It tends to become flushed, blotchy (inflamed, patchy or splotchy) and
irritated in the extremes of temperature or by using harsh cleansing products.
• It gets wind burn and sunburn quite easily (due to its hypersensitivity)
f) Mature/ageing skin
• It has fine lines and wrinkles.
• It is dry to the touch and feels tight.
• Tiny criss-cross (mark with intersecting) lines appear on the face.
• It is time tired skin.
• It appears rough and looks older.
• It is difficult to take care of or manage its care easily.
g) Dehydrated skin
• It is usually found in older people or persons suffering from dehydration.
• It looks puffy and congested.
Important elaboration: This kind of skin condition indicates that the skin has
become changed owing to toxins and waste matter. It can encompass a dry skin
making it looks tight and in some areas even flaky. Excessive and direct
exposure to Sun, improper diet and less water are major causing factors of
dehydrated skin.
h) Blemished or impaired skin
• It is extremely oily and has black heads and white heads and uneven skin tone.
• Very difficult to take care of as breakouts (eruption, sudden outbreak of
disease, etc.); are frequent.
i) Sallow skin
• It has a colorless look.
• It appears almost dead, lusterless (shine less or dull) and devoid of vital
glow.
• The persons who have this type of skin are usually anemic.
j) Chapped or dried skin
• It is extra ordinary dry skin.
• It has rough texture which appears to be cracking.
l) Withered (damaged/decayed)skin
• This is a typical type of skin which has a very rough texture usually replete
with wrinkles.
• It is due mainly to over exposure to extremes of climate as too much heat or
too much cold causes this state of skin.
• Prima facie, it appears to be wilted, drooping, shriveled, wasted or decayed.
Facing Age Factor and its effects on the skin
Our skin is a constant source of stress for most of us. The pure translucent and
creamy texture of baby's skin disappears before we can even begin to appreciate
it. During teenage skin looks like fresh, shining with no wrinkles, but with the
onset of middle age skin become less shining, rough and wrinkles start to
appear.
During the pre-teens ages the skin maintains it natural texture. With the onset
of puberty the skin which behaved so well, starts giving trouble. After the
teens, the skin gradually settles down with the decrease in granular activity.
After the age of twenty-five, the skin needs regular care and maintenance to
preserve the elasticity of the skin.
During pregnancy, many skin problems can occur due to hormonal disturbances and
disorders. At the age of forty, the skin losses all the glow
and wrinkles start appearing, loss of elasticity and dryness are the main
problems of the mature skin. Usually in females, menopause or the actual
cessation of the menstrual cycles may take place between the ages of
45 and 55. Due to menopausal syndrome, many women go through acute mental
depression and emotional stress at this age. It is a natural phenomena to have
fear of losing youth and beauty.
Apart from endogenous (dehydration, high blood pressure, depression, stress,
insomnia or sleep disorders, dietary irregularities, mal-nourishment,
restlessness, constant fatigue and aging ) factors, there are also exogenous
factors which affects the skin and its functions or damage it, such as direct
and constant exposure to Sunlight , UVR, pollution, dust , dirt and use of
substandard cosmetic material or chemicals. Cosmetics should be used carefully
on the skin because these may cause allergic reactions.
One of the worst enemies of the skins is the sun rays which can cause darkening,
dryness and uneven skin tone. The sun projects ultra violet rays in all types of
weather, not just when it’s sunny. Most of us aren't aware of our constant
exposure to (UV rays) which tan, burn, and dry out our skin, causing us to look
darker and older.
The most damaging effect of the sun on the skin is that it dehydrates it,
causing it to become dry, rough and wrinkled. Freckles, pigmented spots and
patches also occur. An immediate reaction is the expansion of blood vessels.
That is why the skin looks flushed and red after sun-exposure. Gradually it gets
tanned. It also damages the skin fibbers.
It is noteworthy that a dark skin contains more melanin, which actually protects
the skin against the sun rays.
HOW TO TAKE PROPER CARE OF THE SKIN TO LOOK LIKE YOUNGER
As stated above that the skin is not merely a natural dress over the body but it
interfaces with the environment and plays highly important role by protecting
our body as an immunizer against pathogens and excessive water loss by the outer
covering of the body. Allah (SWT) has bestowed us with His uncountable and
infinitive showering of blessings for which we are not capable to pay thanks and
tribute. Sura Al-Rehman of Holy Qur’an is the best remembering of His continuous
showering of blessing bestowed to human being. Formation, structure and
multifarious functions of our skin, ipso facto, are one of the great blessings
amongst the others, for which we should be highly indebted for this precious
beneficent gift best endowed by Allah (SWT). This deem appropriate to pay
tribute and thanks to Allah (SWT) by adopting necessary measures to look after
and take care of our GOD bequeathed skin. Indeed, it will also be beneficial for
us.
In order to keep our skin healthy and good, following preventive and curing
measures should be adopted to take care it on daily basis;
Physical preventive and curing measures
a) The first step to skin care is to identify the type of skin.
b) Skin should be cleansed twice a day.
c) While taking bath hot water should not be used, if possible normal
temperature water or in winter slightly warm water should be used.
d) A good moisturizing cream or lotion should be used for the treatment of dry
skin.
e) A beauty therapist should be consulted after the age of 25.
f) Direct and constant exposure to the Sun should be avoided.
g) Proper sleep should be taken
h) We should drink plenty of water and if possible fruit juices too.
i) Smoking should also be avoided.
j) Try to avoid dust and pollution.
k) Always abstain from chemical fumigation.
l) Regular exercise should be followed.
m) Morning walk should be carried on to inhale fresh oxygenated air.
n) Proper sleep and rest should be taken.
o) Normal blood pressure should be maintained.
p) Balanced diet should be taken. Taking green vegetables, such as spinach,
salad, lotus, cabbage, capsicum and cucumber, beans and cereals are also very
useful to bring about excellent results.
q) Eating fruits, especially banana, apricot, blackberry, apple with its peal,
melon and water melon are very beneficial to improve the glow and elasticity of
aging skin. Similarly for curing “oily skin” use of citrus fruits is very
useful.
r) Try to avoid eating barbeques, oily foods with red chilies and taking
alcohol.
s) With the consultation of a dermatologist “sun block cream” or “sunscreen
cream” can be use to block most of the UVA/UVB rays and radiation from the sun
(in case of sensitive skin to the direct sun light)
Elaboration of UVA and UVB rays: Electromagnetic spectrum of Ultra Violet
Radiation (UVR) can be sub-divided as UVA rays with long wave length between
315–400 (nanometer),black light, not absorbed by the ozone layer and UVB rays
are medium wave length with 280-315 (nanometer) mostly absorbed by the ozone
layer.
Psychological preventive and curing measures
a) Avoid excessive exertion.
b) Try to avoid endogenous depression and anxiety, if it is not possible then
consult a psychiatrist or psychotherapist to eliminate the depression.
c) Also try to avoid exogenous depression by changing the life style or consult
a psychiatrist or psychotherapist to eliminate the depression.
d) Try to abstain from too much or morbid aggression or angriness by sublimating
it by way of taking active participation in any indoor or outdoor game,
according to physical condition.
e) Essential hypertension (due to severe anxiety) should be cured by taking
appropriate anxiolytics with the consultation of a physician or psychiatrist.
f) Always try to overcome / eliminate feelings of jealousy, zealousness ,
intolerance, retaliation, vindictiveness, short-temperedness, hypocrisy,
unforgiveness and desperateness as these ill elements cause adverse
psychosomatic affects on our body, especially on the skin. Nevertheless, it is
very difficult to overcome and get rid of these evil signs of thinking, but by
giving self suggestion slowly and gradually these psychopathic evils can be
relinquished.
CONCLUSION
It is natural phenomena that everybody is desirous to have good and healthy skin
in order to beautify his/her physical appearance and to be looked younger.
Unfortunately most of us are not aware of the nature, kinds and causes of skin
problems. Nature has precious endowed us with a beneficent gift in the shape of
skin. If we take care of our skin properly in accordance with the preventive and
curing measures as narrated above, no doubt, we shall be able to safeguard our
skin but in return our skin reciprocally will not only also safeguard /protect
our body but also make our physical appearance more attractive and younger.