As the largest organ of the human body, it is safe to say that your skin has a huge responsibility of making sure your body is working at its very best.
On top of acting as the body’s first line of defence, your skin also functions as an immune organ that specialises in recognising any intrusive irritants, organisms and substances, to which it’ll stimulate a response that’ll have your white blood cells running to the scene.
As such, the maintenance of a healthy skin barrier is utmost crucial.
Before you can figure out skincare habits that’ll keep your skin healthy and restored, discover 3 skin facts to understand your skin a little better.
1. Acts as a body temperature regulator
The skin’s job doesn’t stop at merely being a barrier to harmful pollutants and substances, but it also functions as a personal thermostat via a process known as thermoregulation.
One bodily function that is crucial in this thermoregulation process is sweating!
Sweat will leave your skin via your pores and evaporate and as it evaporates off your skin, your body cools down. In fact, your skin has anywhere between 2 to 4 million sweat glands, so imagine how much sweat you can possibly produce!
Part of thermoregulation also includes keeping you warm. The skin does this via a process known as vasoconstriction where blood vessels in the skin will constrict, thus reducing the surface area in which heat can escape.
Conversely, it can also expand to increase their surface area to let out more heat from the body. This is also known as vasodilation.
Thus, the next time you’re feeling warm or cool, know that your skin is doing its best to maintain your temperature and keeping it as comfortable as possible.
2. The skin sheds itself every 28 days
The skin is made up of 3 layers: the epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous fat.
The epidermis is the thin outer layer of your skin and it’s also where dead skins will accumulate.
These dead skin cells don’t just suddenly come out of nowhere. Your body is always working to replace cells that are breaking down due to time, and wear and tear.
This includes your skin cells as well. As new skin cells generate at the bottom of the epidermis, it’ll naturally push the existing skin cells up. This process will take roughly 28 days.
Help your skin rid of the dead cells by regularly exfoliating your skin!
Opt for either a physical exfoliator or a chemical one, and do it once a week.
That said, if you’ve gone for an IPL body hair removal treatment, keep away from exfoliating those areas lest you’d be left with hyperpigmentation scars.
3. Stress is one of your skin’s enemy
Surprisingly, your skin can react to emotions too – and we’re not just talking about acne that comes in unwelcomed.
High stress levels often lead to an increase in production of the cortisol and inflammatory molecules also known as cytokines. These molecules can give rise to inflammatory markers that will trigger enzymes that break down the collagen molecules that exist within the skin.
What this means is that you’d be missing out on the youthful and bouncy elasticity that’s a sought after characteristic of healthy skin.
But the good news is that such high amounts of cytokines are only triggered by major events or illnesses, and not day-to-day stresses.
Thus, develop a routine to maintain your mental health can go a long way for your psyche and your skin.
Hopefully, these 3 skin facts are enough to tickle your curiosity about one of the most crucial parts of your body and the importance of developing good skincare habits.
If your skincare routine includes getting rid of unwanted body hair, Datsumo Labo is here to help!
With professional body hair removal services such as IPL facial hair removal and armpit hair removal, you’d be unable to resist touching your smooth and supple skin once we’re done.
In line with the safety regulations that have been imposed by the government, do note that we require all clients to book an appointment via our call centre before heading to any of our outlets.