Skin Study Basics - Scalp skin and various skin care tips

Skin Basics

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and is composed of cells which keep dying but are being renewed all the time. Indeed, skin care is essential for the prolongation of youthful looks, not only for women but also for men. With little care, skin problems and diseases can be avoided, controlled or cured.

A healthy skin is characterised by slightly moisture, softness, flexibility, a slightly acidic reaction and the absence of any blemish or disease, It must possess a smooth, fine-grained texture, be affirmable visually and by touch. The skin of the scalp is essentially similar to the skin found elsewhere on the human body, except for the larger and deeper hair follicles which are present on the scalp for accommodating longer hair.

Historiology of the Skin

the skin's surface is not made up of just single layer. It has two defined layers -- the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis, also called scarf skin, is the outermost layer of the skin which provides a protective covering for the inner layer and conatins no blood vessels but has many small nerve endings.

The dermis, which is the inner layer of the skin, is also known as derma, carium, cutis or true skin. The dermis is highly sensitive and is a vascular layer of connective tissues containing numerous blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, sweat glands, oil glands, hair follicles and muscles. The dermis itself consists of two layers - the papillary or superficial layer and reticular or deeper layer. The skin receives its nourishment from the blood and lymph. Between half and two-thirds of the total blood supply of the body is distributed to the skin which contains numerous capillaries. The blood and the lymph circulating through the skin contribute to its growth and nourishment. The skin contains the surface endings of many nerve fibers, classified as follows:

1. Motor nerve fibers which are distributed to the blood vessels and the arrector pipli muscles of the hair follicles.
2. Sensory nerve fibers which react to heat, cold, touch, pressure and pain.
3. Secretory nerve fibers which are distributed to the sweat and oil glands of the skin.

The pliability of the skin depends upon the elasticity of the fibers of the dermis. When a healthy skin expands, it regains its former shape immediately, whereas an aged skin, on the other hand, is characterized by its loss of elasticity. The complexion depends primarily upon the melanin or colouring matter deposited in the stratum and the papillary layer of the dermis and partly on the blood supply in the skin. Cleanliness keeps the skin free from blemishes. The skin contains two types of duct glands which extract materials from the blood to form new substances. The first type is known as the sweat gland which secretes sweat. The other type is the sebaceous or oil gland which secretes sebum - a semi-fluid oily substance flowing through the oil ducts. However, when the sebum becomes hardened and the ducts are blocked, a blackhead is formed.

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