Skin Deep

Facts:

• The skin is the largest organ of the human body.

• The surface area of the skin on an average adult is about 20 square feet.

• It represents 15-20% of the total body weight.

• The skin protects the body’s vital organs, regulates body temperature and allows us to experience sensation, such as hot and cold.

This is an organ that we each should want to protect and preserve given that it performs such a vital function. Skin and skin care is something we often take for granted; of course we are focused on other vital organs like the heart, lungs, kidneys, etc., but we should not neglect our skin. The skin is a barrier for us that protect us from the wind, the rain, the sun, germs and diseases.

How to Create and Maintain Healthy Skin:

1. Cleanse! Be sure to keep all areas of the skin clean by using simply soap and water. I love using all natural cleansers and soaps, they provide protection from harsh chemicals that are included in many commercial soaps and cleansers.

2. Exfoliate! Over time, your skin cells die and build up on the surface of your body, making your skin look dry, sallow, or grey. If left unattended, these old cells can clog up your pores, leading to acne and other blemishes. The thickness of the skin varies throughout the body. It depends on how much use we make of that area. For example, because we use our feet for walking, it is thickest on the so-

les of our feet. We use our hands for doing many everyday tasks such as picking up things and writing, so it is also thick on our palms. These areas will require more frequent exfoliation. There are tons of great scrubs, soaps and cleansers that aid in exfoliation. Be sure not to use products with large particles of salts or sugars for exfoliation as they can actually tear the skin.

Exfoliation should be pleasurable not painful. Exfoliation can be done with scrubs and cleansers along with a soft bristle brush, sponge or loofah.

3. Moisturize! Once the skin is clean, dead skin cells removed, then you must provide moisture to the skin to reduce redness and dryness. You can use a variety of moisturizers for the body, such as lotion, oil and butters. For the face there are many products on the market that offer moisturizing benefits tailored to certain skin type, dry, medium, or oily skin. Using the appropriate moisturizer on the face will prevent acne and skin blemishes. Consult an esthetician to determine your skin type.

There you have it, in three easy steps you have protected your body’s largest organ.