Protect your skin before it's kissed by the summer sun

Better Nutrition, July, 1998 by Nancy Dodd Cates

Skin is probably the first thing we notice about other people. Unfortunately, skin often becomes a measuring device we use for sizing others up, by the complexion of their skin, by its pallor, or by its appearance.

A woman with a peaches-and-cream skin complexion is thought to be beautiful while a man with a rugged look is often considered handsome. We can frequently judge the age of a person by looking at their skin. If we take care of ourselves, it shows in a healthy, robust skin. If we tend to get too much sun, or neglect ourselves by not eating properly, not drinking enough water, smoking, or not getting enough rest, that shows in our skin, as well, and makes us look sickly or older.

Facts about skin, our largest organ

Our skin is the largest organ of our body, covering an area of about 20 square feet in an adult. Skin acts as a barrier that keeps our organs protected from the environment, serves as the first line of defense in immune resistance, regulates the temperature of the body through the circulation of blood and by retention and release of moisture, and aids the kidneys in the function of elimination. The skin is also a sensory organ with numerous nerve endings and contains the appendages of hair, nails, and glands.

The structure of the skin consists of two primary layers, the epidermis and the inner layer, the dermis or corium. The epidermis is made up of various sublayers of cells and is penetrated by numerous sensory nerve endings, but no blood or lymphatic vessels. The deepest layer of skin can be up to many cells thick. In this layer, the cells multiply and, then, as they migrate toward the surface, they alter until they, finally, die and are shed. The outermost layer, the stratum corneum, is composed of a number of layers of dead cells permeated with a horny protein called keratin.

Skin color is affected by three pigment factors in the epidermis. Melanin is the dark brown pigment. Melanoid is the allied dissolved substance. The orange pigment, carotene, is found in dead epidermal cells and the deeper fat layer underlying the skin. The changes in skin color vary with the amount of pigment, especially melanin, and is caused by the blocking effects of pigment and outer epidermal layers, as well as the reflection of blood under the skin.

Blemishes, bumps, and other skin conditions

There are many diseases and conditions associated with the skin, some temporary and curable, like rashes from contact with poison oak or allergic reactions, some not so easily treated and incurable, like psoriasis, with varying degrees of severity. Much of the condition of the skin and many diseases, its color, the number of moles and pigment discolorations, are determined by genetics, just like the color of hair and eyes.

Although there are certain skin factors we can't change, there are a number of things we can do to protect and improve our skin. The number-one factor in the appearance and aging of skin, and in the cause of skin diseases, is exposure to the sun. The lighter the skin, hair, and eye color one has, the greater the risk of skin cancer.

Dry skin. Use moisturizers on your skin. Summer and soap can be very drying. Apply a moisturizer to your skin while it is still damp, immediately after bathing. Use soap sparingly and mostly under the arms, on the feet, and in the genital areas. A cleansing gel will get you clean and has a less drying effect.

Also beneficial to the skin is using clay as an overall mud pack for your body. The clay helps remove toxins, makes it smoother, and tightens the skin.

Psoriasis. Conditions such as psoriasis can be relieved by soaking in a warm bath with Dead Sea salts. There is nothing more wonderfully relaxing than a 15-20 minute soak and then wrapping up in a warm robe and lying down for a 30-45 minute rest.

Getting into the habit of thinking about your skin as your first defense against infectious diseases and protection for your internal organs should motivate you to want to take better care of it.

Skin cancer is dead serious

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It is characterized by sudden uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing tanning cells, but may also develop near moles. If detected while in the early stages, melanoma can usually be treated successfully. In the later stages, malignant melanoma spreads to other organs and there is a higher mortality rate. The American Academy of Dermatology projects that over 1 million Americans will develop skin cancer in 1998. Of those, 9,200 people will die of skin cancer, 7,300 from melanoma alone.

According to a report from the American Academy of Dermatology, a study conducted in 1997 shows that Americans have a 1 in 82 risk for developing melanoma which has increased from a risk of one in 250 in 1980. Those at greater risk are individuals with fair complexions who burn or blister easily; have blonde or red hair; have blue, green, or grey eyes; had excessive sun exposure sometime during either their childhood or teen years before reaching 20; have a family history of melanoma; or have more than 100 moles, or 50 moles if you are younger than 20. Additionally, those who live in states with more intense sunlight have a greater risk.