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Skin Basics
An Overview of Skin
How Can I Keep My Skin Healthy?
It's easy to forget to drink that glass of water or to cleanse yourself at night when you're tired. But over
time, those bad habits can take a toll on your skin. Each day, provide your skin with:
- Plenty of water.
- Thorough cleansing. You should perform this twice daily. At night, make sure
you remove all your make-up and cleanse properly before going to bed.
- Balanced nutrition.
- Toning. After you cleanse with your bar soap or other cleanser, make sure
you use a formulated toner or astringent to remove fine traces of oil, dirt and make-up that you may have
missed when cleansing.
- Moisturizing. This is necessary even for those who have oily skin. There are
plenty of moisturizers on the market that are oil-free.
Over the course of your life, you should pay attention to all parts of your skin. Familiarize yourself with it,
so you'll notice any changes that might occur, such as different moles or patches that might indicate skin cancer. Whenever
you have a question or concern, make sure you see your doctor.
How Does My Skin Work?
Medical terms for various parts of your skin are commonly used today to sell skin care products and procedures.
Here's a rough guide to what those terms mean.
- Epidermis: The Outer Layer of Skin
The epidermis is the thinnest layer in your skin, but it's responsible for protecting you
from the harsh environment. The epidermis has five layers of its own: stratum germinativum,
stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum, and stratum corneum. The epidermis
also hosts different types of cells: keratinocytes, melanocytes and Langerhans cells.
Keratinocytes produce the protein known as keratin, the main component of the epidermis.
Melanocytes produce your skin pigment, known as melanin. Langerhans cells prevent foreign
substances from getting into your skin.
- Dermis: The Middle Layer
This is the layer responsible for wrinkles. The dermis is a complex combination of blood vessels,
hair follicles, and sebaceous (oil) glands. Here, you'll find Collagen and elastin, two proteins
necessary for skin health because they offer support and elasticity. Fibroblasts are the cells
you'll find in this layer, because they synthesize Collagen and elastin. This layer also contains
pain and touch receptors.
- Hypodermis: The Fatty Layer
Reduction of tissue in this layer is what causes your skin to sag. This layer is also
known as the subcutis. It hosts sweat glands, and fat and Collagen cells. The hypodermis is
responsible for conserving your body's heat and protecting your vital inner organs.
- Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the skin, making up 75% of your skin. This is also your
fountain of youth, for it's responsible for warding off wrinkles and fine lines. Over time,
environmental factors and aging diminish your body's ability to produce Collagen.
- Elastin
When you hear the word elastin, think elastic. This protein is found with Collagen in the dermis,
and is responsible for giving structure to your skin and organs. As with Collagen, elastin is affected
by time and the elements. Diminished levels of this protein cause your skin to wrinkle and sag.
- Keratin
Keratin is the strongest protein in your skin. It's also dominant in hair and nails. Keratin is what
forms the rigidity of your skin.
Protecting Your Skin With Preventive Skin Care
- Start simple. You can spend all the money you want on the
most complex skin care routine, but it won't really matter
if you haven't developed healthy habits. So before you
charge a few hundred dollars worth of skin care products,
evaluate your current skin care routine. Do you have healthy
habits? For instance, do you properly cleanse your skin? If
you're a woman who wears make-up, be sure to remove all
traces of make-up at the end of the day. No matter what your
gender is, you should drink plenty of water, providing your
skin with vital moisture from the inside. When you're out in
the sun, be sure to wear Sunscreen. Even though you won't
see immediate results, those little steps make a big
difference over time.
- Start early. Integrate a proper skin care routine into your day early. If you're a
teenager or if you have a teenager at home, start now to develop healthy habits. If you're an older adult,
lead by example! You can't replace the skin you're in, but you can nourish and pamper it to protect it for
the future. With the proper care, your skin can stay fresh as you age.
- Seek professional help for skin problems. Skin's not going to be
perfect. It can be dry or oily; it can develop rashes and Acne, among
many other issues. Address the problem with a professional skin expert,
either a skin aesthetician at your local salon or a dermatologist for
more severe skin problems.
- Block the sun. Protecting your skin from the sun is important because
the sun emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Over time, exposure to UV
radiation causes many changes in the skin, including wrinkles, discoloration, freckles or age spots, benign (non-cancerous) growths
such as moles, and pre-cancerous or cancerous growths such as basal cell
carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. In fact, most skin
cancers are related to sun exposure.
Exposure to the sun is so damaging to skin that is worth understanding this problem thoroughly. There are two main
types of UV radiation: UVB and UVA. UVB rays cause sunburns and UVA rays cause tanning. UVA rays are believed to be
responsible for photoaging - the damage that occurs to the skin from many years of exposure to the sun. Both rays
contribute to the risk of developing skin cancer.
Most Sunscreen products available in the past were developed to prevent sunburns by blocking UVB rays. Fewer Sunscreen products have been equally successful in blocking UVA rays. For that reason, sun protection
recommendations emphasize certain behaviors, as well as the use of Sunscreens. The recommendations include:
- Avoiding mid-day sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Wearing wide-brimmed hats, long sleeved shirts and pants
- Using a generous amount of Sunscreen and reapplying it frequently (every 2-3 hours)
- Using Sunscreens that have a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15, and that have UVA and UVB coverage
- Avoid tanning beds
How Can I Maintain Healthy Skin?
The best way to keep skin healthy is to avoid sun exposure beginning early in life. Here are some other tips:
- Do not sunbathe or visit tanning parlors and try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- If you are in the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. always wear protective clothing- such as a hat,
long-sleeved shirt, and sunglasses.
- Put on Sunscreen lotion before going out in the sun to help protect your skin from UV light.
Remember to reapply the lotion as needed. Always use products that are SPF (sun protection factor)
15 or higher.
- Check your skin often for signs of skin cancer. If there are changes that worry you, call the
doctor right away. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that older, fair-skinned people
have a yearly skin check by a doctor as part of a regular physical check-up.
- Relieve dry skin problems by using a humidifier at home, bathing with soap less often
(use a moisturizing body wash instead), and using a moisturizing lotion. If this doesn't
work, see your doctor.
What are the Treatment Options for Aging Skin?
The doctor's palette of resurfacing options continues to expand. In patients with early skin aging changes,
nonsurgical treatment methods such as tretinoin, vitamin C, and alpha hydroxy acids may provide satisfactory
improvement. chemical peels, dermabrasion and laserabrasion may be used alone or in combination with other
surgical procedures to treat moderate to severe degrees of facial photodamage.
Deeper facial lines may be treated with botulinum toxin or soft tissue enhancement, including Collagen,
autologous fat, and Goretex implants. Patients with more sagging, excess skin will benefit from additional
procedures such as facelift, browlift, and blepharoplasty (surgical reconstruction of the eyelid).
Treatment must be individualized accordingly to the patient's facial characteristics and cosmetic concerns.
Here is more detail about some of the more popular treatment options:
- Chemical peels. Chemical peels are effective for removing fine lines and
smoothing out the skin. chemical peels remove the upper surface of the
skin to expose newer, clearer skin. After the upper layers of the skin
have been removed, a new layer of skin develops. chemical peels can be
used in areas, such as the eyelids and around the mouth, that are not
improved by a facelift. Depending on the patient's skin type and degree
of sun damage, a superficial, medium or deep chemical peel may be the
appropriate treatment.
- Dermabrasion. Dermabrasion removes lines and some scarring and can be
used to treat moderate to severe photodamage (sun damage). In dermabrasion, the doctor sands away the top layer of skin, thus it has
similar side effects and complications as medium to deep chemical peels.
However, because of the bleeding associated with dermabrasion and
variations in skill and technique, the control of wounding is not as
accurate as with current laserabrasion technology. Dermabrasion is not
done on the thin skin around the eyes. Care must also be taken when
dermabrading the skin around the mouth.
- Laser resurfacing. In the past few years, the development of high-energy
carbon dioxide lasers has enhanced physicians' ability to improve
photoaged skin, various types of scars and other dermatologic
conditions. The precise depth control and ability to treat large areas
in a relatively short amount of time makes these carbon dioxide lasers
valuable tools. Before laser resurfacing is performed, your doctor will
discuss with you other treatment options, what to expect during
recovery, how to take care of your skin after the procedure, and
possible side effects and complications. Camouflage makeup suggestions
will also be discussed.
What Causes Wrinkles?
The following factors are the most significant:
- Aging
Wrinkles are a by-product of the aging process. With age, skin cells divide more slowly,
and the inner layer, called the dermis, begins to thin. The network of elastin (the protein
which causes skin to stretch) and Collagen fibers (the major structural proteins in the skin),
which support the outer layer, loosen and unravel, causing depressions on the surface.
With aging, skin also loses its elasticity, is less able to retain moisture, oil-secreting
glands are less efficient and the skin is slower to heal. All of these contribute to the
development of wrinkles.
- Facial Muscle Contractions
Lines between the eyebrows (frown lines) and lines jutting from the
corner of the eyes (crows feet) are believed to develop because of small
muscle contractions. Smiling, frowning, squinting and other habitual
facial expressions cause these wrinkles to become more prominent. Over
time, the expressions coupled with gravity contribute to the formation
of jowls and drooping eyelids.
- Sun Damage
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (too much sun)
can result in premature aging of skin. Premature aging of the skin is called photoaging. The
ultraviolet sunrays that cause photoaging damage Collagen fibers and cause the excessive
production of abnormal elastin. When ultraviolet light damages skin tissue, an enzyme called
metalloproteinase is produced. This enzyme creates and reforms Collagen. During the
process, however, some healthy Collagen fibers are damaged, resulting in a disorganized
formation of fibers called solar scars. Wrinkles develop when the rebuilding process occurs over
and over.
- Smoking
Healthy skin perpetually regenerates. While old Collagen is broken down
and removed new Collagen is produced. Researchers have found that smoke
causes a marked reduction in the production of new Collagen. A lack of
new Collagen results in the development of wrinkles.
What Are the Treatment Options for Wrinkles?
There are numerous over-the-counter treatment options for wrinkles.
Removing skin layers to reduce wrinkles or irregular depressions is an
effective way to regain smoother, more youthful looking skin.
Dermabrasion (scraping layers away) and chemical peels (dissolving skin
away) are two of the traditional methods used in skin resurfacing. Aside
from these procedures, two newer techniques: laser skin resurfacing with
an erbium or carbon dioxide laser and Botox injections are the latest
techniques developed to repair prematurely aging skin and wrinkles.
If you are considering treatment for your wrinkles, ask your doctor
which procedure is right for you. There is no replacement for your
doctor's professional advice. Each person has his or her own individual
needs; similarly, each procedure fulfills its own specific need.
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