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- It is the largest organ of the body, and in many cases, the most neglected.
- The skin acts as a protectant from outside bacteria, helps to regulate body temperature as well as being an organ of excretion.
- The skin consists of three divisions, the epidermis,
the top layer, the dermis, middle layer and the
subcutaneous layer, which is right beneath the dermis.
As a Skin-Care Specialist, I treat the epidermis by analyzing the skin type and assessing its conditions. I design clinical treatments and prescribe home care regimens based on this assessment.
Integrity of the Skin
The skin is the body’s first line of defense from potential bacterial invaders, which is why it is imperative that it remains intact and unharmed. The skin also shows “tell-tale” signs of illness, i.e., paleness, and in the event of a severely burned person, health is compromised. This is because the integrity of the skin has been disrupted.
Once the skin has been broken or removed (as in the case of a burn), the body is open to infection. Usually, heavy, occlusive products (like Vaseline) with no color or fragrance are used to protect the skin. If you have suffered from a severe burn, suspend the use of all skin care products until the skin re-epithelializes (the skin grows back).
***In the most severe burn cases, the person’s immune system may not be able to handle the bacterial onslaught, hence death occurs***
Diabetes
As in the case of diabetics, they have to be careful with skin injuries. Here are some helpful tips to refer to when purchasing skin products:
- Choose carefully. Select products that are mild and don’t easily penetrate the skin. You don’t want anything that you are not familiar with to penetrate the skin because you don’t know what reaction it may cause.
- Don’t use products that may be injurious to the skin, i.e., Glycolic Acid. Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid that is derived from sugar cane and can easily penetrate the skin due to its small molecular structure.
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