The skin is undoubtedly the body's largest organ. Depending on your height and weight, Covers an area of about 1.5-2 square meters They weigh between 3.5 and 10 kilograms, which is about 15 percent of their total body weight.
Think of it as a kind of intellectual armor. It helps us sense the world around us, protects our internal organs, and protects us from pathogens. This is reason enough to take good care of it, especially for the following reasons: premature skin aging Your ability to perform all of these functions may be reduced and your risk of infection may increase. But new research suggests the effects on skin health may be even more profound.
To understand why, we need to examine its structure. The skin is made up of three layers. The outer waterproof epidermis is constantly regenerated. The dermis underneath is filled with collagen and elastin fibers. And underneath, the subcutaneous tissue, or subcutaneous tissue, is made of fat and connective tissue and is filled with cavities that help cushion the rest of the body from impact. Damage to these layers can cause skin cells to excrete inflammatory proteins. In the short term, this may increase blood flow to the injury site and speed healing. However, if high levels of inflammation are maintained over a long period of time, those chemicals can accumulate and spread to other organs with the help of the vast network of blood vessels within the dermis, causing organ damage. .
accelerated aging
Aging can accelerate this process. As we age, our skin loses collagen, water, and fat and becomes more fragile. To make matters worse, many skin cells enter a state called senescence, where their production of inflammatory chemicals increases. This potentially toxic cocktail appears to amplify the risk of age-related conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia. Although there is no conclusive evidence for this hypothesis yet, various evidences Now we support it. For example, animal studies have shown that skin damage can cause widespread inflammation. Meanwhile, researchers at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Does someone's face look older or younger than their actual age? It was associated not only with general cognitive function, but also with an overall risk of developing cataracts, osteoporosis, hearing loss, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In the future, “aging therapy” drugs may be developed that remove aging cells, including those in the skin, or block the release of inflammatory proteins. these are Still in developmentbut progress is promising. On the other hand, there are many lifestyle changes that can help all of us take care of this important and fascinating organ. Read on to learn more.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
