Skin could be the most underrated organ in the human body because one only notices it when it’s abnormal. Perfect skin is, metaphorically speaking, invisible; it’s not seen. But things like scars and bruises are noticed right away. It’s only when things go wrong that one looks at their skin and goes: “Oh, that’s weird.”
The skin is indeed a precious organ for the human body. It’s an individual’s first line of defense against any pathogens. That’s why a cut in the skin can be so destructive if a pathogen gets through. Not to scare anybody, but the world is full of pathogens dangerous to the human body, and most of the time, what separates us from them, is our skin.
The sensory impressions conveyed through the skin are also why it is so crucial to how a person understands the world. Most of the information available to us comes through the sense of touch.
But there is also a beauty aspect to the skin. That’s why people tan, powder, fake blush, or use various creams for their skin health. People judge others based on their skin. “Bad skin” can be unattractive to many. Unfortunately, judging based on the skin is a double-edged sword; it can lead to unfortunate and false stereotypes when taken to extremes.
There is no reason to feel guilty if you do not like someone who has “bad skin.” This is mainly because the sight of such skin sets off alarms in our brains that this person might have a health problem. This is the power of natural selection and the way we have survived as a species. Today we know that not all skin abnormalities are related to a person’s health.
So, since the skin is such an essential aspect of human life, most would agree it should be studied more closely and carefully. Fortunately, the medical community did so a long time ago. The branch of medicine that deals with the skin is called dermatology. So the next logical question is: What does a dermatologist do?
What’s Dermatology
In the Greek language, “derma” translates to “skin.” Hence, dermatology is the study of skin, though it’s not just about skin anymore. Today, dermatologists deal with not only the skin but also hair and nails. Though this science field has taken great strides in the past few years, it has been around for quite some time. Dermatology was already a specialty in medicine in the 18th century at a famous Paris hospital.
Dermatologists are doctors who know about skin problems. Remember that they are trained, medical professionals. Unfortunately, some people are skin-related specialists but incorrectly introduce themselves as dermatologists.
Dermatology has such an extensive field of research that listing all of its different branches and describing them is beyond the scope of this article. But the dermatologist, most people encounter in their lives can be pretty accurately described. They are trained to treat health problems related to skin, hair, nails, and some cosmetic issues.
Roles
The skin plays many roles in our bodies that we take for granted. It serves as protection, but not only that, it also helps us feel. The importance of the skin cannot be limited to this particular function. Many other functions can be attributed to the skin in whole or in part.
Protection
As mentioned earlier, the skin is the first natural barrier pathogens encounter in the human body. But this protection does not stop here; it also serves as a barrier against moisture. The skin is water-resistant, and that’s a good thing, because otherwise every time someone goes swimming, all the nutrients, hormones, assimilates, elements, and so on would be flushed out of the body.
Sensation
Feeling warm or cold weather, pain, pressure, touch, and vibration are all part of the skin’s job. It’s incredible to think how the skin senses different sensations such as touch or vibration and tells the difference. This is, of course, because of specific receptors situated under the skin.
Helping Adjust Body Temperature
This is called “thermoregulation.” The skin’s job is to cool the body or keep it warm, depending on the circumstances. Sweating is a necessary method of cooling ourselves, made possible by the skin. In the opposite situation, the skin can adjust the angle of the hair in different ways. You can feel this when you have goosebumps.
Everyone Can Be Beautiful
In today’s world, with the editing capabilities that everyone has at their disposal, it’s easy to fake perfect skin, at least in the traditional sense. If only it were so easy in reality as well. But it’s not all doom and gloom; there’s also good news. Many options are available today for people intent on changing certain aspects of their skin. There’s also a considerable number of ways to take care of one’s skin to prevent future complications.
Everybody will deal with wrinkled skin from a certain age onward. Some people are more uncomfortable with having wrinkles than others. Maybe it’s a matter of resistance to becoming older, or they just don’t like wrinkles. Nevertheless, they want the wrinkles gone. One available option is getting botox in Sterling Heights; since such treatments should be regular, they ideally need to take place near where one lives.
But getting botox injections in Sterling Heights isn’t always just because of wrinkles. Such injections can be used to treat other conditions such as neck spasms or “lazy eye”. An experienced doctor must perform this treatment; otherwise, there are increased risks of side effects.
Taking Care of One’s Skin
Though it’s always comforting to have a checkup at the dermatologist’s office, the best medicine is taking preventive measures. Some tips may help prevent future complications concerning one’s skin.
Cleaning One’s Face
Washing one’s face in the morning is vital to eliminate any excess oils left on it. The same goes for nighttime before going to bed, especially if one has worn makeup throughout the day. Remember not to obsessively wash your face because it’ll backfire and do more harm than good.
Put On Sunscreen
Sometimes preventing something can be much easier than dealing with it when the time arrives. This is especially true for the relationship between too much sunlight and skin cancer. Putting on sunscreen, especially when being under the sun for extended periods, is advisable because of the adverse effects on the body. Not getting much sunlight isn’t usually a wise choice either since our star is an essential source of Vitamin D for us.
Healthy Diet
A healthy diet has many benefits and for many reasons. As for health complications related to the skin, research has revealed some effects of diet on the skin. For example, there is a definite link between acne and diet, although it is not yet fully understood.