19 Jul Know each other
Let's get to know our skin in order to be able to take care of it and nourish it in the best way, what functions does it perform?
Its main functions are three:
- Protection: The superficial layer called epidermis is what allows our skin organ not to let anything through, in fact it protects us from external physical and chemical aggressions (UV rays, pollution) and allows the amortization of any trauma; specifically, its protective function is allowed thanks to a hydrolipidic film (water + fat) produced by highly waterproof sweat and sebum secretions, whose pH acid does not allow the pathogens normally present on our skin to survive and therefore to penetrate.
- Information transmission: The skin is the largest organ of our body and can be considered as a sort of second brain given its close link with the nervous system; skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis are in fact often caused by a high level of anxiety and stress. In addition to being a very ancient technique, massage is therefore an indispensable ally both to facilitate the penetration of the products we put on our skin and as a reactivating action on the nervous and blood systems.
- Drainage: Through perspiration it eliminates superfluous waste and at the same time secretes sebum, the fatty part of the hydrolipidic film which allows the function of protection from external agents and waterproofing.
The skin is made up of 3 main layers:
- Epidermis: it is the thinnest and most superficial layer, the one on which we apply our cosmetics and which represents the barrier to external agents; the basal layer is composed of living cells that multiply continuously, accumulating and evolving. The stratum corneum is made up of corneocytes (cells that have lost a large amount of water) are bound together by a sort of lipid cement that deteriorates, the dead cells found on the surface layer are then eliminated through a natural process of desquamation. The lipid "cement" is made up of polyunsaturated acids, ceramides and cholesterol. It is important to keep these substances present and to do this it is necessary to use skin-compatible products, therefore not mineral oils but high quality vegetable oils.
- Dermis & Hypodermis: they are the deepest layers of the skin and it is here that blood circulation takes place, the epidermis is not vascularized but receives nutrients by diffusion thanks to the dermis; not being able to reach these 2 layers with our cosmetics, we must keep in mind that their correct maintenance depends on how we feed ourselves and how much we hydrate ourselves. The dermis is the thickest layer of the skin, the state of skin hydration depends on it , its importance derives from the fact that it is an aqueous connective tissue in which the blood circulates to bring you very important nutrients, in fact here we find collagen and elastin proteins, responsible for the tone and elasticity of the skin. The hypodermis is the layer deeper formed by fat cells.