Skin facts - Know your skin

Home > Skin facts - Know your skin

Do you know that your skin is the largest organ in human body? In fact if you are an average adult, its surface area including hair, nails and glands, may measures about 1.5-2 square meters (about 17-22 square feet) and weigh about 3.5 kilograms (about 8 pounds).

Your radiant and glowing skin, in fact, is a very complex structure made up of millions of different types of cells carrying out many varied functions.

Know the structure of your skin

Skin is a dynamic organ in a state of constant change. The layer which is visible to us is in fact dead layer in the process of desquamation (shedding). It is made up of two layers. The outer most of layers is called epidermis and the inner or deeper layer is called dermis.

The epidermis in fact has the outer dead and dying layer and inner rapidly dividing layer. The epidermis on its outer side is mostly made up of flattened dead cells about to be shed off. The inner epidermis consists of rapidly dividing keratinocytes, pigment cells and nerve endings.

Know your skin structure and its layers

The dermis in fact is composed of two layers namely the papillary and reticular dermis. Apart from collagen tissue, elastic fibers and extra-fibrillar matrix make up the structural components of the dermis which give your skin its strength and flexibility. The dermis layer is also interspersed with blood vessels, nerves, hair roots and sweat glands.

Hypodermis, also known as subcutaneous fascia, lies beneath the dermis and is responsible for binding epidermis and dermis to the body. The hypodermis has connective tissue, sweat glands, fat cells, larger nerves, blood vessels and collagen producing fibroblasts.

Know the functions of your skin

Do you know that skin functions as a barrier. In fact it protects the internal organs and muscles from loss of body fluids and also from environmental elements and pathogens. it also has a thermoregulatory function by which the body temperature is maintained both in hot and cold conditions. Senses like hot, cold, touch, pressure and pain are picked up by millions of nerve endings present in it and are conveyed to the brain. Do you know that dermis synthesizes vitamin D on exposure to ultraviolet rays present in the sunlight?

Know your skin tone (color)

The melanin pigment and its type determines the color of a person. In excess presence melanin can give black color whereas its total absence in the dermis as found in certain genetic disorders can give rise to albinism. Blond hair, red hair and color of the iris are the effect of the proportion, density and types of melanin present.
In the same person melanin is concentrated at different levels producing pink lips, whiter palms and soles and white of eyes.

Know your skin type

Cosmetologists have categorized skin types into normal, oily, dry,  combination and sensitive types. The first three types can be easily known. In the combination type oiliness is only on the forehead, nose and chin areas and it appears dry in the rest of the body. When sensitive, it appears smooth in structure and is very reactive to environmental elements and chemicals. Further all of us know that its thickness differs and it is thinnest on the eye lids and thickest on the soles of the feet.

Healthy skin can only be present in a healthy body. It is an indicator of general status of your health. Nourishing and nurturing the body properly will give you true beauty. Poor internal health reflects as acne, wrinkles, blemishes, spots, premature aging, inflammation, infections, allergies and cancer.  Avoiding consumption of unhealthy foods and adding sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables will improve the general health and give your skin radiance and glow.

Interesting topics:

1. Nourishing skin with fruits and vegetables.
2. Small itchy water blisters on hands and feet.
3. Cosmetic procedures with lasers.
4. Nevus simplex - Salmon patches.
5. What is hemangioma?
6. Hemangioma removal.
7. Carotene in carrots.
8. Types of urticaria.
9. Chronic urticaria.

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Skin_layers.svg
Image author: Madhero88 and M.Komorniczak
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Current topic: Skin facts - Know your skin.

Facts and information about albinism disorder

Home > White skin discoloration > Facts and information about albinism disorder

Albinism disorder in fact is not a disease and albinos have an inherited condition in which little or no pigment is produced by the body, affecting the color of their skin, eyes and hair.

In albinism, the genetic information and gene expression are altered and the required amount of melanin pigment is not produced, sometimes with debilitating health and vision issues. In fact, the prevalence of this genetic disorder is approximately one individual for every seventeen thousand individuals.

Albinism affects individuals of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Except for ocular type all other types affect both men and women equally. In fact most of the children with albinism have normal parents. Albinism is caused by inheriting recessive genes from both the parents in oculocutaneous type and from mother in ocular type.

Image - Horizontal nystagmus
Albinism vision problems

Facts about types of albinism

As albinism may involve different genes, there are different types.
In oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) pigmentation of the skin, hair and eyes is affected. There are subtypes like OCA1, OCA2, OCA3, and OCA4. The pigmentation ranges from near lack of it to slight amount of pigmentation.
Ocular albinism (OA) is a rare type wherein only the pigment in the eyes is affected. In fact the affected person has skin and hair coloration similar or slightly lighter than that of his ethinicity. This type is linked to X-chromosome affecting only boys and is passed on from mother to son.
Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder which results in oculocutaneous albinism and bleeding problems due to a platelet abnormality.
Griscelli syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypopigmentation with immunodeficiency.
Chédiak–Higashi syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder which results in recurrent infections, partial albinism and peripheral neuropathy.

Facts about vision issues

Depending upon the form, albinos have various degrees of vision impairment. Some affected persons may be nearly blind whereas some may be able to even drive a vehicle.
There are varying degrees of impairment in the development of retina of the affected persons. Further there is impairment in the nerve connection between eye and brain.
Some of the vision problems of affected people are astigmatism (blurred vision), photophobia (eye sensitivity to light and glare), near-sightedness, far-sightedness, nystagmus and crossed eyes.

Facts about health issues

But for vision problems, affected persons lead a normal life and have an average life span. Persons with oculocutaneous type have very little pigment on the skin and can suffer sunburns easily. Proper sun protection in the form sunscreen creams, hats and clothing is necessary. They are also easily affected by UV sunlight and are prone to skin cancer as they lack protective melanin pigment. Persons affected by Hermansky-Pudlak, Griscelli Syndrome or Chediak-Higashi syndrome have other health issues like bleeding, neuropathy and immunodeficiency and their life stye and life span may be severely affected.

Facts about social issues

In many regions of the world, people mistake the skin coloration of albinos for a contagious infection and stigmatize the affected people. Even their paternity and ethinicity are questioned. It is very necessary to educate their neighbors and school-mates about the facts of albinism to overcome stimatization. In fact in some parts of Africa violence is perpetuated on albinos based on witchcraft tales, beliefs and cures.

Topic of interest:
Albinism types and their genetic causes

• Home
• Index

Image credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Student_BSMU/ (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Skin care - Olive oil nutrition facts

Olive oil types → Nutrition facts → Health benefits facts → Facts for skin care → For hair care → Moisturizer → beauty tips

Exceptional nutrition benefits of olive oil are the presence of high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E and vitamin K.

Olive oil is the main oil ingredient in the food of people of the Mediterranean region. Studies have revealed that heart ailments are comparatively low in this region.

This is attributed to the presence of nearly 73% monounsaturated fatty acids and the antioxidants like vitamin E in the olive extract. Though the exact composition of it varies in respect to extraction process, harvesting time, maturity of the fruits, altitude, region and the genetic line of the trees, the following nutrients are present in approximate values for 100 gms (109 ml).

Olive oil nutrition facts

Nutrients facts	Amount in 100gms
Energy	890 kcal
Total fats (lipids)	100.0 gms
Total saturated fatty acids	14.0 gms
Total monounsaturated fatty acids	73.0 gms
Total polyunsaturated fatty acids	10.5 gms
Phytosterols	221.0 mg
Vitamin E (tocopherol)	14.4 mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	60.0 mcg
Total choline	0.3 mg
Betaine	0.1 mg
Calcium	1.0 mg
Iron	0.6 mg
Potassium	1.0 mg
Sodium	2.0 mg

Facts on the role of fatty acids in olive oil for nutrition and cholesterol management

Saturated fatty acids increase the blood cholesterol levels (both high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein). The increase in LDL cholesterol leads to artery clogging and heart disease. Monounsaturated fatty acids help in reducing the LDL and increasing HDL. High HDL levels help in removing artery blocks and help in preventing heart disease. Polyunsaturated fatty acids lower both HDL and LDL. The lowering of HDL has adverse effects.

Facts on olive oil role in increasing HDL

The high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids present help in increasing the HDL and lowering the LDL. The facts are that in nutrition remove the deposits on the artery walls allowing better blood flow. The lowering of LDL prevents deposits on the artery walls. Thus olive oil nutrition proves very beneficial for heart care.

Facts on olive oil nutrition increasing antioxidant activity

The high content of vitamin E (a potent antioxidant) and phytonutrients like flavonoids and polyphenols gives a big role in reducing free radical activity. Our body gets protection from oxidative damages which cause many diseases and ageing.

Facts on limitations in olive oil nutrition

The quality of the olive oil is of prime importance. Only 'extra virgin olive oil' is rich in nutrition values. Other label terms like 'pure olive oil', 'refined ' and 'high quality' are misleading terms and facts and the product may not give us the expected benefits. Application for skin nutrition may be avoided by persons affected by tinea versicolor fungal infection as this fungus grows well in it.

• Home
• Index