Did you know the skin you see on yourself and others is actually dead? Or that approximately every month or so, we get an entirely new layer of skin? Skin is fascinating! But I bet it’s one part of your body you don’t give too much attention to as a sign of good health.

The month of November is Healthy Skin Month, so it seemed fitting to dedicate an entire article to the very topic.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. And it has some serious responsibilities to uphold! Its duties include regulating body temperature, excreting toxins, protecting our organs and other body systems, housing sensory receptors, creating a waterproof barrier, and holding blood. It is a major player in our immune system and is the first line of defense against pathogens, viruses, and bacteria. The skin keeps all that is “us” inside and keeps everything else out.

Think about that. The skin keeps all that is “us” inside. This works both ways. It is a barrier to the outside world but also a barrier to our inner world. We wouldn’t let just anyone inside our homes, right? So why would we let just anything into our body?

Although all functions of the skin are necessary to keep the body alive, one of its most important functions is the ability to maintain proper body fluids (that’s why it’s waterproof). In the case of severe burns, the most immediate threat is a significant loss of fluid, including proteins and electrolytes. The fluids most impacted are water and electrolyte levels. When these levels are not balanced, kidney failure can quickly develop. Patients suffering from third-degree burns are placed on IV hydration and supplementary nutrients to help the body with recovery. All because of damage to the skin.

Another fascinating thing about our skin is that we get a new epidermis every 25-45 days. Throughout every day, we are constantly rubbing off dead skin cells. It’s like we leave a tiny trail of “us” everywhere we go! That’s pretty gross and I have to apologize for the vivid image, but it’s true! The cells that are on the outermost part of us are actually dead and they flake off easily to allow new cells to grow. Have you ever noticed that when you have a cut or scrape, the skin that first grows back looks different than the rest of your skin? That’s because it’s alive and growing.  Under normal circumstances, most of what we see on ourselves and others is actually dead. Have you heard the quote, “Beauty is only skin deep”? That could not be more true!

It is amazing that dead cells can successfully perform so many functions!

How can we care for our skin?

·      The most important thing we can do for the health of our skin is to keep hydrated. Drinking about half your body weight in ounces of water is ideal (A 200-pound person should be drinking about 100 ounces of water every day.). No, soda, coffee, juice, caffeinated tea, and beer do not count as water, even though they are liquid! In fact, those are all diuretics and actually cause the body to lose fluids. Most herbal teas are the exception. Start slow and increase your water intake gradually.

·      Stop using antibacterial soaps and cleaners. These are often complete overkill (pun intended!). When you use these types of chemicals on your skin, it disrupts the balance of microorganisms on your skin (and in your gut) which are absolutely essential to good health. In most cases, plan soap works just fine! Please note, in most cases, herbs and essential oils that have antibacterial properties do not have this negative effect on our microbiomes. In fact, they can help enhance the activity.

·      Eat a well-balanced diet that is full of different types of plants. The skin needs all sorts of nutrients to be healthy and perform optimally. Most of these nutrients are found in greater quantities in plants (fruits, veggies, legumes, and whole grains). In addition, the health of your gut shows in your skin. Keep your gut healthy with lots of fiber and limited processed foods. Acne can be a sign that something is out of whack in your gut or other organs.

·      Get active. Exercise helps to move toxins and excess nutrients out of your body through sweat glands. Ever notice your sweat tastes salty when you work out? That’s your body hard at work! Exercise also helps to reduce stress which is a bonus all around!

Have a wonderful week!

Peace, love & kale!

Lindsay

References:

Lattin, A. (2017). Winter Skin Care [Online lecture]. Retrieved from: https://achs.edu/course/holistic-winter-skin-care

Marieb, E.N. & Hoehn, K. (2019). Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th ed.). United States of America: Pearson.

Zeeuwen, P. L., Kleerebezem, M., Timmerman, H. M., & Schalkwijk, J. (2013). Microbiome and skin diseases. Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology, 13(5), 514–520. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACI.0b013e328364ebeb