Almost everyone takes their skin for granted without realising its complex structure and the various functions that it performs. This is why I want to share an understanding of the skin and the importance of skin care.

Skin is the largest of our body’s organs and plays a significant role that is essential for the overall health of your body. This is why it is so vital to take care of your skin with appropriate skincare products.

Skin can also reflect our emotions and any internal disorders. When we are down in the dumps, our skin can lack lustre and appear rough. If we are stressed, it can show heated responses such as sweating, blushing or even a rash.

On the other hand, fear and anxiety can lead to dryness by constricting the skin and therefore, produce more wrinkles.

The skin serves to regulate body temperature, provide immunity against bacteria invasion, protect from mechanical and chemical stress, dehydration, and UV radiation, eliminate electrolytes and other wastes, secretes sebum (oil) to form a protective barrier and synthesises Vitamin D to aid in the absorption of Calcium.

Your skin protects your body from illness, damaging your bones and protecting your muscles and internal organs. When you use skincare products that are suitable for your skin type, along with a glowing appearance, you can slow down the process of ageing. Taking care of your skin will help keep your skin looking youthful.

Let’s take a closer look at your skin layers to see exactly how they protect us. It’s fascinating to see why it is important to apply the correct skincare products for your skin type.

The Structure of Human Skin

Understanding The Skin

Looking at the image above, you can see the anatomy that makes up the layers of your skin. It consists of three main sections while each performing its various functions.

1. The Epidermis

   This layer is the protective covering. It is as thin or as thick as a sheet of typing paper. It is constructed of various rows of skin cells that have become dehydrated and flat and are held together by a protective tissue that regenerates approximately every 28 days.

2. The Dermis

   The next layer is where the nutrition (from blood vessels), sturdiness, and resilience come from as it is composed of connective tissue containing collagen - also found in bones, cartilage, sheaths of muscle, nerves, and elastin fibres, giving skin its elasticity and strength. Most of the skins living structures are found here alongside hair follicles.

3. The Hypodermis

   Also known as the subcutaneous layer, it is made up of elastic and fibrous connective tissue along with Adipose fat tissue. The fat serves as insulation where energy (or heat) is stored. It is also very rich in nerves and nerve endings.

There are a variety of processes happening below the skin’s surface that we simply cannot see with each function assisting in the production of newly formed cells to protect against harmful bacteria and infection, and prevention of injury or disease occurring within the skin. 

In order to understand the importance of skincare and how to best protect your skin, let's discuss this further. 

The Importance of Skincare

I am about to state what is obvious. Your skin will lose elasticity in the years ahead. To slow down the ageing process, it’s wise to take care of your skin preferably from a young age, although it’s never too late to start. First, we need to understand what contributes to ageing skin.

When you think of the environment and the elements we subject our skin to every day, whether it be sunlight, pollution, smoking, alcohol, medication, or free radicals - wait, what are free radicals? I will get to that in a moment. Anyway, all these aspects can factor into the rate at which your skin will age.

Free radicals are chemical changes that occur in cells. They can build up to a point where they can damage DNA, lipids and proteins. If there is a great deal of build-up, it contributes significantly to the ageing process and may even cause disease.

When you think about how often you are outdoors in the sunlight and the amount of pollution in the air, if your skin is not protected from these elements with a barrier like a sunscreen, the skin will be damaged. The higher the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) the better. You can usually find a face moisturiser or foundation with SPF built-in.

Alternatively, if you drink excess alcohol and/or smoke, these can negatively affect the health of your skin cells internally. This can eventually show up on the surface of your skin.

The Ageing Process of the Skin

Throughout childhood, adolescence and adulthood, our skin changes as it copes with fluctuating hormones and reactions to the environment. By the time we are in our 70s, many sebaceous (oil) and sweat glands have cut down on their output. The elastin and collagen fibres that made our skin plump and firm in our younger days have broken down, allowing our skin to sag. Reduced circulation takes away the glow of youth, and the essential water content decreases. The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles is often one of the first signs of ageing.

The other thing to think about is your individual genetic inheritance. Some skin types age more quickly than others. Taking care of your skin doesn’t need to be difficult. When you find the right products for you, the difference it makes will astonish you.

If you’re not sure of your skin type, read through the next article on what is my skin type and why is it important to know this to help you discover how best to look after your skin.

Has this helped you in understanding your skin? Do you already have a skincare routine? How are you finding your products? Discuss in the comments if you have any questions.