Acne

Your skin is a very clever organ. No matter which in the arsenalof developments in anti aging skin care products are proudlyemblazoned on the bottle and in the marketing literature, yourskin knows the truth. And whilst it may play the game for alittle while, plumping up nicely to give the appearanceof looking younger, more even, and less lined, this is only atemporary, somewhat cosmetic ruse. It is actually abiological trick of the light, a chimeraic nod to the quest foryouth. Don’t be fooled.

Skin care is big business. And there’s nothing wrong with that.But whilst its highly entertaining to browse through the shelvesand try out the latest pedigree of skin cream, these footsoldiers in the war on wrinkles meet a somewhat tenacious anduncooperative foe in our skin.

Our skin. This multi-layered emissary to the outside world,bearer of our expressions, our joys, our grief. Guard againstthe invisible tide of micro-organisms that seek to infiltrateour body’s first defence against disease and infection. Thiscomplex array of cells that every month regenerate and shed,within the constraints of age and the quality of our diet. Ourskin is a hard worker and much unappreciated. Often barelynourished despite the money spent on technological promises, westill hope the dream of youth slipping away will be restored.

There is a way to slow the process of aging. But not by applyinghigh tech anti aging creams. By understanding exactly what ourskin is, we can find better ways of giving it what it needs. Andconsequently, we will find ourselves with what we want - moreyouthful skin.

Our skin is composed of 3 main layers. The outside layer that weapply our anti aging skin care products to is the epidermis.This in turn has 4 to 5 layers, depending on where it is in thebody, and whether there is a lot of hair on it. The top layer ofthe epidermis, the stratum corneum, serves as a barrier. This iswhere the cells are continually shedding and where new cells areultimately pushed up to. These cells have no blood supply, andhence no nutrients or oxygen carried in the blood reach thesecells. They are essentially dead in that they cannot engage inthe metabolic processes that living cells do. But they do servevery important functions. By creating an impenetrable barrier,they keep out bacteria and other micro organisms, and are thuspart of the immune system. But this very function also serves tokeep out most of the expensive ingredients in anti agingtreatments. And no matter how well an ingredient performs in alaboratory test tube, that does not necessarily translate toreaching the deeper layers of your skin, where the real antiaging work takes place. Most skin care products work only on thestratum corneum, and that is their downfall as anti aging secretagents.

The next layer down from the top is the dermis. This is thelayer where wrinkles develop. The dermis consists of livingcells, and they are responsible for the structure, integrity andelasticity of the skin. Here collagen is regenerated whilstexisting collagen is broken down in the monthly cellular cycle.The production of collagen slows with age and factors likesmoking, sun exposure, stress and inadequate nutrition. Otherskin nutrients like elastin and hyaluronic acid are found here.Hyaluronic acid for example, helps hold water. As the dermis iscomposed of living cells, it has a blood supply, which transportnutrients and oxygen to the cells. These capillaries alsotransport cellular wast like carbon dioxide away. Here you’llalso find lymph vessels, sebaceous and sweat glands, hairfollicles, and nerve endings for heat and cold.

Fibers from the dermis extend down and into the next main layer,the subcutaneous layer. They anchor the skin to it. Thesubcutaneous layer in turn attaches to organs like bone andmuscles underneath. Here are nerve endings that are sensitive topressure, blood, lymph vessels, fat cells, collagen and elastin.The subcutaneous layer thins as we age, which creates a moreangular appearance.

Moisturizers achieve their temporary effect by trapping wateralready in the skin. They essentially act as a seal, they do notprovide additional water or ‘moisture’. The few products thatactually work on the deeper layers of the skin are the Retin-Askin care treatments. Vitamin C, though popular, has notconclusively demonstrated that it can reach the deeper layers,the dermis. And even if it did, there is not enough evidencethat it actually does anything there.

But the news is not all bad. We can do something, and its notrocket science. If we supply the skin with the nutrients itneeds, with good, fresh fruit and vegetables, and good qualityfats and protein, or even supplements as a boost. Then, and onlythen, will we stall the clock at a more agreeable hour.

References: 1. Tortura & Grabowski, Principles of Anatomy andPhysiology, 7th Ed. (Harper Collins)

2. E Angyal, Gorgeous Skin (Lothian Books)

About the author:

Acne sufferers, read this acne natural cure article for agreat insight into Traditional Chinese Medicine and how theyview skin conditions. And if you want a deeper understanding ofwhy we get sick, check out this article on supplements and herbalmedicine.

Filed under: Acne