The Ancient Egyptians were well-versed in the art of skincare. Dating back 3,500 years, ancient scrolls describe intricate routines aimed at keeping the skin soft and smooth, and the body delicately perfumed. In 1550 BC, when diseases and imperfections were common, the Egyptians had treatments readily available for common ailments such as wrinkles, moles, eczema, itches, boils, stings, and bites. The effectiveness of these ancient therapies is difficult to determine. However, much like the marketing of modern skincare products, the actual efficacy may not have mattered much. According to one scroll, wrinkles could be banished by using wax, olive oil, and fresh milk, with the instruction to “See to it!” if afflicted. Unsightly moles could be treated with crushed berries, grain, honey, and leaves in water used to wash the phallus. An itchy neck? Apply chopped-up bat for instant relief. And what about that bothersome crocodile bite? The Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical works in the world, suggests slapping a lump of meat on it.
While these ancient remedies may seem absurd, some of the strategies were actually sensible. Many of the recipes incorporated natural antiseptics such as garlic and onions, moisturizing agents like olive oil and aloe vera, and anti-inflammatory compounds including salicin from willow. Before scoffing at the methods employed by ancient physicians, it’s worth considering what future scientists might think of our current skincare products and procedures, such as creams, balms, emulsions, serums, Botox, tucks, and peels.
Though much about the skin remains unknown, researchers have uncovered some fundamental knowledge about its functions, aging process, and development of diseases. When magnified, the skin is revealed to be teeming with bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even tiny, transparent mites that mate on our faces while we sleep. Rather than being a mere protective covering for the body, the skin is now recognized as a complex and vital organ. In fact, it is the largest organ in the body, equivalent in size to a single bedsheet and three times heavier than the brain.
The skin serves as our frontline defense against the outside world, shielding us from sharp edges, germs, sunlight, and pollution. It regulates body temperature, ensuring we don’t become too hot or too cold, and prevents excessive water absorption or loss. Additionally, the skin acts as a tactile connection to the world, a sensory surface that surrounds us. It is a visible display that can provide instant assessments of our heritage, age, health, and emotions.
Contrary to popular belief, the skin is far from a lifeless surface. Upon closer examination, it is revealed to be home to bacteria, viruses, fungi, and minuscule mites. The structure of the skin is complex, consisting of three main layers: the epidermis (outer layer), the dermis (middle layer), and the hypodermis (bottom layer comprised of fat and connective tissue). The epidermis, although thin on the eyelids, is a multi-layered tissue that varies in thickness throughout the body. It serves as a flexible outer sheath of hardened, dead cells that repel water, germs, and pollution. The outer surface of the epidermis is continuously replenished with new cells to replace the approximately 40,000 skin cells shed by the body each day, resulting in new skin every month.
Within the epidermis are melanocytes, which produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color. Melanocytes increase melanin production when exposed to sunlight, darkening the skin and providing protection against harmful UV rays. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to DNA damage in melanocytes and the development of melanoma skin cancer. However, limited sun exposure is essential for the skin to produce vitamin D, which is necessary for healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. To ensure an adequate supply of vitamin D, health officials recommend a daily 10µg supplement from October to April, when sunlight is less abundant.
Beneath the epidermis lies the dermis, the thickest layer of the skin, accounting for about 90% of its total volume. Collagen, a protein that provides strength and resilience, holds the dermis together, while elastin confers elasticity and the ability to regain shape. Extensive networks of blood vessels in the dermis supply nutrients to the epidermis and regulate body temperature by constricting or dilating blood vessels in response to temperature changes.
The dermis also contains hair follicles, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and nerve endings. Hair follicles are widespread, except on the lips, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. Sebaceous glands, attached to the hair follicles, produce sebum, an oily substance that moisturizes the skin, provides additional waterproofing, and inhibits bacterial and fungal growth. Sweat glands, numbering around three million, cool the body by producing up to two liters of water per hour, which evaporates and removes heat. With the presence of nerve endings, the entire exterior of the human body becomes a sensory surface, capable of sensing hot and cold, rough and smooth, and experiencing pleasure and pain.
In the subcutaneous tissue, beneath the dermis, lies the hypodermis, composed of fat and connective tissue. The hypodermis cushions and attaches to muscles and bones, serves as a conduit for nerves and blood vessels, and helps maintain a stable body temperature by providing insulation.
As a physical barrier, the skin protects against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other infectious organisms. It accomplishes this through a combination of protective substances and immune responses. By secreting sweat and sebum, the skin forms a thin, acidic film on the epidermis that inhibits the growth of certain microbes. Sweat contains dermcidin, a substance that kills various bacteria, while sebum contains antimicrobials like lauric and sapienic acids.
The skin also possesses its own immune system. The main skin cells in the epidermis, called keratinocytes, have the ability to recognize pathogens and tissue damage. When activated, they initiate an inflammatory response, attracting white blood cells to fight infections and clear away cellular debris. Keratinocytes secrete antimicrobials such as beta-defensin and cathelicidin, while specialized cells in the epidermis called Langerhans cells actively search for germs and recruit the skin’s T-cells to eliminate them. An average adult possesses about a million T-cells per square centimeter of skin, which can effectively combat local infections.
Despite its hostile environment for microbes, the skin hosts a vast microbiome, comprising bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes that reside on the epidermis. It is estimated that tens of thousands, if not several million, bacteria inhabit each square centimeter of skin, making the skin second only to the gut in terms of bacterial density. The skin’s microbiome is essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier and preventing colonization by harmful pathogens.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
