Did you know that the skin is the largest organ of the human body, weighing in at about 16% of your total body weight and having a surface area of about 1.8 square meters? This organ replaces itself every 30 days by a constant migration of newly formed cells moving up from the dermis and eventually shedding from the skin’s surface as dead skin cell membranes.

Our skin does a lot of work for us. It acts as a barrier from the elements, chemicals and dirt, helps protect us from bacterial, viral and fungal attack, protects our internal organs and keeps them nicely in place and helps control water loss and our internal body temperature. Our skin also produces our vitamin D requirements.

Quite a list – and an important list therefore, we must do all we can to look after it. 

 

SKIN STRUCTURE

Human skin is cleverly constructed. There are 3 layers.

 

The Epidermis

The top layer is called the Epidermis and its primary function is to act as a protective layer. This layer is covered by a secretion of natural fatty acids that act to  protect us from dryness and invasion of external bacteria, fungal and viral particles. This fatty acid layer has a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5. This layer is responsible for killing off bacteria, fungal or viral invaders that may land on the skin during our day to day activities.

This fatty acid mantle has to be maintained and protected but unfortunately, we as a modern society, are not very good at looking after our skin because of the environmental pressures we put on it. Just think how long you spend in an air conditioned environment, either heating or cooling, and drying out your skin, which can aggravate common dermatological problems. How often do you wash with a soap or caustic cleanser, products that clean but strip away your protective fatty acid layer leaving your skin exposed to attack? What about the drying effects of the sun and wind? Unlike animals that have fur, fish that have scales and birds that have feathers, we as humans have very little natural protection from the harsh elements.

 

The Dermis

The second layer of the skin is called the Dermis. The Dermis contains numerous specialised cells, as well as blood vessels, nerves, sweat glands and hair roots. Collagen and Elastin fibres make up about 70% of the dermis and give the skin strength, toughness and elasticity.

 

The Subcutaneous Layer

The third layer of the skin is the Subcutaneous Layer. This layer is the fatty under layer offering body protection and varies in thickness from person to person.

 

SO WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THEM?

Dry skin, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis are common problems affecting about 30 percent of the Australian population. Eczema, which includes atopic, contact and seborrhoeic dermatitis can be triggered by factors such as external irritants and chemicals, allergens, foods, stress, the environment and microbes.

While it may not be possible to eradicate these conditions altogether, it is generally possible to manage them with the assistance and advice of one’s healthcare professional. Additionally, here’s some suggestions that are generally considered as good practice.

Avoid Soaps & Harsh Cleansers

Many soaps and foaming cleansers contain harsh ingredients that may irritate your skin and aggravate existing conditions. Soaps and harsh cleansers in hand and body washes and shampoos can strip the skin of it’s natural oils causing it to become dry and exposing it to external irritants including bacteria and allergens. If you are susceptible to eczema avoiding this type of product is a good practice. Also many soaps are quite alkaline with a pH between 9 – 11. When used on some skin conditions the alkaline nature of these products irritates and dries out the skin even more. Always use products that have a pH close to that of the natural pH of your skin, which is 5.5 to 6.5. All Kenkay Dermatological products have a pH that is compatible with the skin’s natural pH.

Avoid Hot Showers and Baths and keep them short

When bathing either in a bath or under a shower, especially if you have problem skin, it is advisable to use a Bath Oil to help maintain your natural protective fatty acid layer that is present on all healthy skin. Hot baths or showers can strip the skin of natural oils resulting in dry, scaly skin. Wherever possible, use warm water instead. When drying off skin, avoid rubbing with a towel. Gently pat skin dry instead.

 

Keep Skin Moisturised

Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise…. Apply a good quality moisturiser daily, at least morning and night. Use a good moisturiser such as Kenkay Dermatological Moisturiser which has been formulated to hydrate the skin and restore the appearance of rough, thickened or dry, cracked skin.

 

In addition to regular moisturising, you can help keep the skin's fatty acid layer intact by reducing 

your exposure to harsh environments

 

Eat Healthy

By maintaining a healthy diet and consuming natural foods with an adequate vitamin and mineral intake you will be helping your skin from the inside out. Good foods to remember are: Fish, Fresh Fruits, Nuts and Raw Vegetables.

Avoid eating fast food. Meals that are high in grease, fried oils and high in salt, can affect the skin’s appearance. In some cases, certain foods and ingredients incorporated into prepared and fast foods can act as a trigger for eczema flare-ups. Once such triggers have been identified, they must be avoided as much as possible.

Drink plenty of Water

Drinking plenty of water is an important part of your everyday healthy wellbeing. Some dietitians recommend drinking six to eight glasses of fluids including water, tea and juice per day. Avoid soft drinks and too much fruit juice as they usually contain high levels of sugar.

If you must Exfoliate - Exfoliate GENTLY

Exfoliating  skin vigorously can cause damage and can be extremely irritating to dry skin conditions causing redness, itching and flare-ups if you have eczema prone skin.

If you have to exfoliate, this should be done gently (but not on inflamed skin or during a flare up), using a non-abrasive exfolient and a soft sponge or washcloth in a slow circular motion. You will still remove any excessive dead skin cells without abrading the skin.

Note: It is best to avoid any type of exfoliation whilst suffering from Dermatitis, Eczema or Psoriasis.

 

A Note on the Australian Environment

Many Australians, with our outdoor lifestyle, have premature aged and wrinkled skin. Many of us are ill equipped with our skin type, with our skins being fairer because we or our forebears have come from climates with much less sun. To produce vitamin D, which is essential for good health, the sun’s radiation has to penetrate through to the skin. Melanin, a chemical in the skin, protects us against ultraviolet light. but in doing so, melanin affects the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D.

 

To ensure the skin can produce adequate levels of Vitamin D in climates with less sunshine, those living in such environments, developed skin with less melanin, which is why some of us have fairer skin. Climates with higher sun levels caused indigenous people to have much darker skin, because living in a sun rich country like Australia, they needed the extra levels of melanin to protect from sunburn, premature ageing and skin cancer, while still allowing sufficient sun coming through to the epidermis to create vitamin D. It’s interesting – all our skin colours are generated by where our forbears came from – biologically, that’s the only difference between us.