This week’s blog covers a lot. To be a bit more specific, today let’s talk skin. Your skin covers a lot! I may have some good news. If you were slightly overweight last time you stepped on the scale, remember skin makes up about 15% of your total body weight.
STOP!
About face. That doesn’t mean you should bolt to Dairy Queen for a Blizzard because you thought that 15% of your weight was fat. Today we are looking at a few fun facts about the largest organ in your body. Using the correct medical terminology, skin is part of the integumentary system.
WHAAAAT?
This term refers to your body’s outer layer. This is made up of your skin, nails, hair, glands and nerves on your skin. This system protects your muscles, organs and bones from injury, infection and bacteria. The appearance and color of your skin can define your heritage and ancestry but wait…that’s not all. There are some cool things about this ubiquitous organ that you may not know.
FUN FACTS
- The average adult has nearly 21 square feet of skin that contain over 11 miles of blood vessels.
- A single square inch of skin has about 300 sweat glands.
- The thickest skin is found on your feet and the thinnest is on your eyelids.
- Your skin renews itself every 28 days and sheds about 9 pounds of dead skin cells every year.
- Some of the dust in your home may actually be dead skin…eeeooowww.
- Your skin has nerves that are connected to your muscles to help you react to extreme temperatures or pain.
- Changes in your skin can be a warning sign of medical conditions or changes in your body’s health.
- There are at least five types of receptors in the skin that respond to pain and touch.
- Sleep is vital for healthy vibrant youthful skin.
- Skin turns sunlight into vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones, reducing cancer cell growth, helping to control infections and reduce inflammation.
PARCHED!
This time of year many suffer from dry skin. The fact is dry skin is caused by lack of natural oils. Dehydrated skin is caused from lack of water. Dehydrated skin occurs when your body is losing more water than it’s taking in. Note to self, drink up.
GETTING OLD
As we age the number of pigment- containing cells (melanocytes) decreases. The remaining melanocytes increase in size. Aging skin looks thinner and paler. Pigmented spots including age spots or “liver spots” may appear in sun exposed areas. When many of us were youngsters, slathering on sunscreen was not a thing, slathering on baby oil was.
HDD
Speaking of skin, during an ultrasound, high level sound wave technology is used to penetrate deep below the surface of the skin to see what lies beneath. Ultrasound has difficulty penetrating bone and other dense material hence can only depict the outer surface of a bony structure. This week’s fun facts are brought to you by High Desert Doppler. If we can assist in any of your diagnostic ultrasound needs, call us at 505-350-3397.