Skin is a marvelous, miraculous organ. As skin care experts, Mariposa would like to share with you some fascinating facts about our skin. If you have additional questions about skin care procedures or skin in general, please ask. We are here to serve you.
Did you know?
Mariposa is Spanish for butterfly.
Skin is the largest organ of the body, making up 16% of our body weight
Skin fulfils many functions including acting as a barrier to protect the body from the environment, a temperature regulator, an immune organ to detect infections etc. a sensory organ to detect temperature, touch, vibration and a visible signal for social and sexual communication.
The skin reflects your general health and social behavior. Situations which effect your health can have an important effect on your skin, for example cigarette smoking causes aging and wrinkling of the skin with time.
If your skin changes suddenly and with no apparent reason it may be a sign of ill health, such as the sudden onset of dry skin with coarse hair and weight gain may mean your thyroid gland is underactive.
The major cause of aging of our skin is ultraviolet light (from the sun!). Ultraviolet causes pigmentation changes such as liver spots or sunspots, broken blood vessels, thinning of the dermis and wrinkling of the skin. In order to prevent this, protection of the skin against ultraviolet light is required. Wearing proper clothing, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen is very important. Certain skin types are more susceptible to these effects. Most at risk are those with fair skin that burns easily.
The color of skin depends primarily on a pigment called melanin. It is also influenced by the blood flow through the skin. Melanin is a pigment produced by special cells called melanocytes that manufacture packets of melanin called melanosomes and transfer them to the skin cells of the epidermis the keratinocytes.
In white people the darkest area is the upper thigh and the lower back is the lightest. In black people the abdomen is the darkest.
Melanin helps protect the skin against the effects of ultraviolet light, and tanning of the skin on sun exposure acts to increase that protection.
Acne is a term for the over production of oil, which results in plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions called pimples or zits, whiteheads, blackheads, nodules or cysts. Acne most commonly appears on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and arms. Teenagers are affected the most by acne, but acne can also affect adults between the ages of 20 to 40. After age 40, acne may lessen because of lower levels of hormones.
- Approximately 17 million people in the U.S. have acne. Nearly 85% of people between the ages of 12 to 24 develop acne. While both men and women are affected by acne, young men are more likely to suffer the effects of acne for longer periods of time because testosterone tends to make acne worse.
- The exact causes of acne are unknown, but it is believed that it can result from several factors, primarily, an increase in hormones called androgens, which both males and females have. Increases in androgens cause your oil glands to enlarge and produce more oil. This oil can also change into a thick white substance called sebum. An increased oil production clogs your pores with oil and sebum that can breakdown the cellular walls in your pores, which causes bacteria to grow and pimples to develop.
Age spots are also referred to by many as “sun spots.” Age spots are more likely to be formed from over exposure to the sun than just maturity alone. Getting older does not mean that you have to get age spots. Age spots or sun spots can be more easily prevented than trying to reverse them once they have already formed. This is why it is crucial to protect your skin from the sun and its ultraviolet rays when you are younger to help prevent age spots as you get older. Once you have them, age spots can be diminished with laser skin procedures.
Age spots can also be caused by smoking, lack of vitamins, or a diet that has large amounts of refined sugars or fats. These factors added to over exposure to the sun will almost definitely speed up the process of age spots. The age spots are formed when the body produces too much Lipofuscin. Lipofuscin is a substance that is darker in color and helps color your skin pigment. Too much Lipofuscin in one area and your skin starts showing the spots of buildup on the outside.
Age spots are thought to be very unsightly and can form in anyone as early as their late twenties. But most commonly sun spots or age spots occur after the age of 55.
Freckles, a.k.a. ephelides, are small brown or tan patches common in individuals with lighter skin, blond or red hair, and blue, green or grey eyes. They appear early in life, increase in number during summer months and fade in winter. After the age of 40-45 they disappear.
The medical term for a mole is NEVUS. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the majority of moles show up during the first two decades of a person’s life while about one in every 100 babies are born with moles.
An estimated one out of every 10 Americans has at least one atypical mole. These moles are larger than common moles, with borders that are irregular and poorly defined. Atypical moles also vary in color, ranging from tan to dark brown shades on a pink background. They have irregular borders that may include notches. They may fade into surrounding skin and include a flat portion level with the skin. These are some of the features that one sees when looking at a melanoma. When a pathologist looks at an atypical mole under the microscope, it has features that are in-between a normal mole and a melanoma.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the most common types of moles are skin tags, raised moles and flat moles. Untroublesome moles are usually circular or oval and not very large.
In the 1950s and 60s, a mole was known as a “beauty mark” when it appeared in certain spots on a woman’s face. Examples include Marilyn Monroe, model Cindy Crawford and singer Madonna. Madonna's facial mole -- below her right nostril -- has been surgically removed, possibly reflecting increasing public distaste for the former fetishizing of these blemishes. Almost everyone with light skin has at least one or two moles somewhere on their bodies while large numbers can be concentrated on the back, chest, and arms. Darker skin shades, however, tend to have fewer moles.
A basic reference chart used for consumers to spot suspicious moles is found in the mnemonic, A-B-C-D. The letters stand for Asymmetry, Border, Color and Diameter. Sometimes, the letter E (for Evolving) is added. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, if a mole starts changing in size, color, shape or, especially, if the border of a mole develops ragged edges or becomes larger than a pencil eraser, it would be an appropriate time to consult with a physician. Other warning signs include a mole, even if smaller than a pencil eraser, that is different than the others and begins to crust over, bleed, itch, or becomes inflamed.
Varicose veins are enlarged veins that can be flesh colored, dark purple or blue. They often look like cords and appear twisted and bulging. They are swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are commonly found on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg. During pregnancy, varicose veins called hemorrhoids can form in the vagina or around the anus.
Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, but they are smaller. They are often red or blue and are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. They can look like tree branches or spider webs with their short jagged lines. Spider veins can be found on the legs and face. They can cover either a very small or very large area of skin.
Many factors increase a person's chances of developing varicose or spider veins. These include:
- Increasing Age
- Having family members with vein problems or being born with weak vein valves
- Hormonal changes. These occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Taking birth control pills and other medicines containing estrogen and progesterone also increase the risk of varicose or spider veins
- Pregnancy. During pregnancy there is a huge increase in the amount of blood in the body. This can cause veins to enlarge. The expanding uterus also puts pressure on the veins. Varicose veins usually improve within 3 months after delivery. A growing number of abnormal veins usually appear with each additional pregnancy
- Obesity, leg injury, prolonged standing and other things that weaken vein valves
- Sun exposure, which can cause spider veins on the cheeks or nose of a fair-skinned person
Fingers and toes wrinkle in the bathtub due to the outermost layer of the skin swelling when it absorbs water. It is tightly attached to the skin underneath, so it compensates for the increased area by wrinkling.Most biologists suggest that the tough outer layer of skin made up of dead keratin cells is responsible. Keratin is a protein found in hair, nails, and the outermost layer of our skin.
Our skin is made up of three layers:
- The subcutaneous tissue is the deepest layer. It contains fats and connective tissue along with large blood vessels and nerves.
- The dermis is the middle layer. It contains the blood vessels, nerves, hair roots, and sweat glands.
- The epidermis is the topmost layer. It helps to prevent evaporation of water from the body and to protect the internal layers from harm.
There are two main kinds of human skin; Glaborous skin (non-hairy skin) and hair-bearing skin.
- Glaborous skin is found on the palms and soles and is characterised by a thick epidermis with dermatoglyphics (fingerprints)
- Hairy skin differs from site to site, for example, the scalp versus the arm. It also contains a wide range of other structures depending on the part of the skin examined. Nails are formed from the epidermis on the fingers and toes. Oil glands (sebaceous glands) are found attached to hair follicles, Sweat glands are found in the dermis with ducts passing to the surface through the epidermis. In certain areas such as the axilla and groin there are specialised sweat glands called apocrine glands which develop after puberty. In addition there are specialised sense organs and nerves, blood vessels and other tissues such as muscle, which make the skin one of the most complex organs in the body.
The epidermis is constantly growing from the bottom upwards and the dead skin cells (stratum corneum) are shed (usually invisibly) from the surface. This whole process normally takes about 52-75 days but can be much quicker in some skin diseases such as psoriasis.
The average adult has 21 square feet of skin (2 sq m) which weighs 7lb (3.2 kg) and has approximately 300 million skin cells.
On average each square half inch of skin contains:10 hairs, ?15 sebaceous glands, ?100 sweat glands? and 3.2 feet (1m) of tiny blood vessels
Skin is thickest on the palms & soles (1.2mm to 4.7mm) and thinnest on the lips and around the eyes.
Facial skin is approximately 0.12mm thick and on the body is about 0.6mm.