Facts About The Skin
April 20th, 2007
- Skin is the largest organ of the body. It has 2 layers. Outer layer epidermis produce sebum which is an oil that makes the layer water-proof. The inner layer dermis has oil (sebaceous) glands, sweat glands, nerves, blood vessels and hair follicles.
- Every 6.5 sg cm of skin may hold up to 20 bleed vessels, more than 1000 nerve endings and 650 sweat glands.
- Considered to be the “third lung” in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) while naturopathy sees the skin as the third kidney as it filters off waste materials through perspiration and keeps the body hydrated.
- Also in TCM, skin is connected to the metal element which rules the lungs and large intestine.
- Helps get rid of toxins.
- Maintains body temperature at 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). When the body is feeling hot, sweat glands release sweat and as sweat evaporates, the body feels cooler. When feeling cold, blood vessels shrink to reduce heat loss and the body might shiver which causes the muscles to release heat.
- 30,000 dead skin cells fall off the epidermis every minute. These dead skin cells make up at 90% of the dust around the house.
- A layer of fat below the dermis also helps to regulate heat and cold.
- Light skin has a higher tendency to wrinkle compared to dark skin.
- The color and thickness of skin varies over different parts of the body.
- An ideal position to give rest to the body and a line-free face is to lie on the back with the knees elevated by placing a pillow or cushion beneath.
- To keep skin clear and free of problems, eating right plays a big part. Certain skin problems like acne and eczema can be seen as an attempt by the body to get rid of toxins through the skin. We can help our body do just that by making sure our kidneys and liver function well, not overburdened with the job to eliminate toxins from the body.
- Drink lots of water (filtered if possible) throughout the day, at least 8 glasses or 2 litres and eat large portions of fibre daily. Go easy on sugary foods and drinks. Learn to love fruits and vegetables.
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