Natural Skin Care Tips

Everyday simple skin care is vital for the health of your skin. That may seem obvious to all but, even then, many people still take their skin for granted.

Why should you take care of your skin? Well, It's the largest organ of your body. If you were able to stretch out the skin of the average adult, it would cover an area of approximately 2 square meters (22 square feet) - just a bit larger than the blanket of a double bed, and weigh 3.6 kilograms (8 pounds).

Your skin has a wide range of functions that sustain your survival. It's also your body's largest sensory organ and contains more than 4 million sensory receptors. It serves as a waterproof barrier over the whole surface of your body, prevents infection and protects the sensitive and delicate organs and tissues it encloses.

Skin Anatomy. The Three Skin Layers

1) The epidermis: An elastic layer on the outer side and is composed of: Keratinocytes: The chief epidermal cells created by cell division at its base. These cells gradually die and become flattened as they gently and gradually move upwards towards the outer surface over a period of 1 to 2 months.

• Corneocytes: These are the dead flattened keratinocytes that comprise the outermost layer of the epidermis. They form a protective layer that is progressively shed or worn away with time.
• Melanocytes: These produce melanin, the pigment that gives you your skin color and protects against ultra-violet radiation from the sun.

2) The dermis. An inner layer that comprises:

• The sweat glands: These produce sweat and are involved in body temperature control.
• Hair follicles: Pit like structures in which hairs grow. The hairs are also part of your body's temperature control mechanisms.
• Sebaceous glands: These produce sebum oil to keep the hairs dust and bacteria free.
  

3) The subcutaneous layer: Located directly below the dermis. It consists of connective tissue and fat (a very good insulator). It's the last of the 3 layers of the skin.

Functions of the Skin

Apart from keeping you appropriately "packaged," skin performs many other important functions vital to your overall health and survival. It's a protective covering that's brimming with white blood cells that are suitably equipped to defend you against germs. In a nutshell the skin:

• Acts as a protective barrier against physical, thermal and mechanical damage, and dangerous substances.
• Helps to retain and prevent moisture loss.
• Moderates the harmful effects of ultra-violet radiation.
• Acts as a sensory organ for touch and temperature detection.
• Helps to keep your body temperature within narrow limits.
  
• Functions as an immune organ to detect and attack infections.
• Synthesizes vitamin D.

Basic Natural Skin Care Tips

Skin contributes, in a very big way, to your outer beauty and appearance. A healthy, clean and glowing skin enhances attractiveness and is also an indication of the healthy state of your body. Below are a few basic skin care tips that should help to keep your skin healthy, clean and glowing:

• Wash Your Skin Regularly. This is very basic and logical. Wash your skin on a daily basis. This will rid you of the pile up of dirt, germs and dead skin.
• Moisturize Your skin. With exposure to pollution, the sun and sometimes severe weather conditions, your skin may lose a lot of the moisture that keeps it healthy and breathing. A good quality moisturizer should help.
• Don't smoke. Smoking constricts the tiny blood vessels in the peripheral zones of your skin. Blood flow is decreased and your skin is deprived of oxygen and nutrients vital to its health...

...Smoking ages you prematurely and makes your skin look older than it actually is. It also wrecks havoc on the fibers (elastin and collagen) that give your skin its elasticity and strength.

Natural Skin Products

Caring for your skin using natural skin care ingredients - essential oils, herbs, roots and flowers, all  produced in a way that preserves their integrity and effectiveness is by far one of the best approaches you can take in caring for your skin. Give it a try. Once you see the benefits you'll be sold.

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