by SkinExpert on May 31, 2009
Who doesn’t love to get out and enjoy the sun on a warm day? If you are like most people, you probably even kick back and bask in the sun every now and then. You might even set out each spring to gain a beautiful tan. However, it is important to keep in mind that sun bathing can be dangerous to your skin and your health.
The sun is a powerful presence in our solar system. Our planet would not survive without the light and heat from the sun. The sun is actually a star and no other star is closer to our planet. When you look at the sun you are seeing the photosphere. The temperature of that layer of the sun can be as much as six thousand degrees Celsius and the core of the sun can reach temperatures of 15 million degrees Kelvin.
You might be amazed to know that the sun is 4-5000 million years old. The sun is definitely a powerful star so to speak. As good and enjoyable sunshine is, it is unfortunate that it is able to pose a risk to your skin. In it’s glory the sun makes a bright day so enjoyable. It brings us warm weather when it shines bright and hot.
The sunshine attracts many people to get out their sunbathing gear and try to get a tan. Almost 90 years ago, a fad started for people to get bronzed skin from the sun. That fad has never faded out. It is considered un cool in this generation to have pale skin with no signs of sun exposure.
Just remember that being out in the sun too much, especially without taking preventive measures can be dangerous. The Ultraviolet rays from the sun can do more than damage the appearance of your skin. It can break down elasticity of your skin and harm collagen. Too much sunlight can cause you to have more wrinkles and lines in your skin. In the worst of scenarios it can even cause skin cancer.
There are steps you can take in order to further protect your skin. Click here to read Part II of this article.
by SkinExpert on May 26, 2009
You might not think of your skin as an organ, but it is. In fact, it is the largest organ of all. You might be surprised to know how much the skin really does for us. The skin serves many purposes. It helps to keep your body from losing too much water. It serves as a barrier to help protect you from infections and bacteria that try to enter the body. Blood vessels, hair follicles and nerves are all embedded with your skin. You skin even works for your other organs as a layer of protection.
Your skin is very sensitive to stimuli since it is filled with nerve endings. Cells from the lower layers of the skin make their way to the epidermis which is the site ot dead cell expulsion. Your skin renews each self about every thirty days.
There are three layers to your skin including the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous layer. The outer layer of your skin, the epidermis, has three of its own small layers. The epidermis contains Keratin, Langerhans and Melanocytes. The color and shade of your skin is determined by the amount melanin in your skin. Lagnerhands are actually a component of the immune system helping to shield the body from entry of infection.
As your grower older in years, you will see changes in the epidermis and other layers of skin. It becomes more difficult for the cells in your skin to divide and renew themselves each month. The dead cells are not released from the epidermis with as much speed as when you were younger. Your body will start to produce melanin with age. This is why there are aging spots (most often brown). Your skin will look older and more rugged as the function of the epidermis decreases.
The next layer of your skin is know as the dermis. This is the main core of your skin. The dermis is responsible for the elasticity of your skin. There is collagen, proteins, blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles and nerves within the dermal layer. With age, your skin will lose some of its elasticity. It becomes more difficult for your body to retain moisture for the skin, which is why you will notice dryer skin with age.
