Darrick Robles The skin is our largest organ
The fact that the skin is the largest organ in the human body is probably already old hat. But did you know that it measures around 1.5 – 2 square meters in an adult human and consists of up to 110 billion skin cells?
1. The first barrier
First and foremost, our skin is a protective organ and therefore a very important part of our immune system. It not only protects us from environmental influences, but also from dehydration.
In addition to pressure and friction, the skin also offers protection against cold and heat. The skin also forms the first barrier against pathogens, chemicals or radiation, preventing them from entering our body. Responsible for this is the protective acid mantle on our skin, which is made up of sebum, sweat, dead skin cells and bacteria. With its slightly acidic pH value of 5, this protective coat prevents foreign bacteria and viruses from multiplying and penetrating the skin. At the same time, it ensures that moisture does not escape from the skin.
Incidentally, the increased use of some cosmetic products and washing too often can destroy this protective acid layer in places – which can lead to dry skin and rashes.
2. In two steps to the body’s own vitamin D
Most of our vitamin D requirement is formed in our body under the influence of UV rays. In the first step, the so-called previtamin D3 is formed in the skin through contact with sunshine. This then migrates to the kidneys and liver, where it is processed into vitamin D. Vitamin D strengthens our bones and teeth and is important for muscle strength.
15 minutes of sun per day are sufficient to cover the daily requirement of vitamin D. The face, neck, arms and legs should be kept in the sun.
By the way: The pigment melanin is also in the skin and protects it from the sun’s rays. The more melanin there is in the skin, the darker the skin color. As a result, people with particularly light skin “burn” more quickly in the sun, while people with darker skin can sunbathe for a few minutes longer without sun protection without burning.
3. Our skin consists of three layers
The three layers of skin that make up our skin are the subcutaneous tissue (subcutis), the leather skin (dermis) and the upper skin (epidermis). They are all responsible for different functions.
- The subcutis consists of fat and connective tissue and is primarily responsible for protecting us from the cold and storing energy.
- Due to its composition of elastin and collagen, the dermis is primarily responsible for making the skin stretchy and tear-resistant. In addition, this layer also contains cells that contribute to the immune system and veins, lymphatic vessels, as well as sebaceous and sweat glands.
- The epidermis is the top layer of skin and consists of horny cells. It protects our body from external influences and produces melanin.
4. A new coat of skin every four weeks
Our skin renews itself approximately every 28 days. In the top layer of our skin, the epidermis, new skin cells are constantly being formed, which gradually become horny and make their way to the surface and finally fall off. On average, we lose around 30,000-40,000 skin cells per minute! By the way, 50% of the dust in our living rooms consists of skin dust.
5. Man’s fifth sense
Our skin is a very important sensory organ and it alone is responsible for the sense of touch. With the receptors, which are found in each of the three skin layers, stimuli such as temperature, pain and pressure are perceived and transmitted to the brain via the spinal cord. Most touch receptors are in the fingertips: about 150 per square centimeter! Have you ever tried to guess how many fingers someone puts on your back? That’s pretty hard. No wonder, because that’s where we have the fewest receptors.
The skin needs it
Our skin is a multi-talented miracle organ. In order to stay healthy, your skin needs the right care. This is good for your skin:
- Movement. Regular physical activity also keeps the skin young and fit.
- Fresh air. Oxygen helps blood flow to the skin.
- Enough liquid. Water also supports blood circulation in the skin.
- A balanced diet. Because eating right can slow down aging.
- Enough sleep . Because your skin also needs time to regenerate.
- The right sun protection . UV rays accelerate aging and increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
If you or your child have skin problems, Med-Healths’s doctors are here for you. Do you suffer or does your child suffer e.g. B. a skin rash , eczema, psoriasis or Mallorca acne , our doctors can help you or your child within a few minutes. Med-Healths can also help quickly with diseases such as neurodermatitis , chickenpox , scarlet fever and many others.
You can upload photos of the affected skin areas before your appointment and our doctors will advise you on symptoms, causes and treatment. They can also provide you with a prescription and/or a referral to other specialists, such as B. a dermatologist or allergist issue.
