FUN FACTS ABOUT THE SKIN

1. The skin (integumentary system) is the largest organ of the body. (ACHS)

2. The epidermis (top layer of the skin) is thinnest on the eyelids and thickest on the palms and soles of the feet (Wikipedia)

3.The entire epidermis  is replaced by new cell growth over a period of about 48 days. (Lizuka, Hajime (1994) “Epidermal Turnover Time”. Journal of Dermatological Science 8 [3]: 215-218.)

4. We have approximately 1500 sensory receptors in 1 square inch of skin; there are more in the mouth, tongue, and hand than on the back or the calf.  (ACHS)

5. The pH of the outer layer of the skin is usually mildly acidic (5.5) to protect against bacterial, viral, and fungal infection. (ACHS)

           

6. 50% of a person’s adipose tissue (fat cells) is found subcutaneously. (ACHS)

7. Vitamin C and copper are important for collagen formation. (ACHS)

8. Hair covers the entire body except the palms, soles, lips, and genitals. (ACHS)

9. The average person has around 5 million hairs on their body, 100,000 of which are on the scalp. (ACHS)

10. When the hair is wet, it can stretch to 1 ½ times its normal length. (ACHS)

11. Nails are hardened keratin (protein) and are created by thickening of the epidermis welding together. (ACHS)

12. Nails lose moisture 100 times faster than the skin. (ACHS)

13. The nails are a window into the body’s health; changes in look, shape, or color may indicate disease. (ACHS)

14. Sweat glands are found all over the body but especially in the palms and the soles of the feet. (ACHS)

15. Sweating eliminates about 1/3 of the body’s waste each day. (ACHS)

16. Harmful ingested substances like aspirin can show up in the skin and hair hours after they are excreted (it can take up to 20 days to be fully eliminated).  (ACHS)

17. Diaper rash and thrush (white patches on the cheeks of the mouth) are caused by yeast (Candidiasis). (WebMD – skin problems)

18. Staph infections of the skin can be contracted by touching athletic equipment, door handles, shopping carts, razors, and towels, and are frequently acquired in gyms and college dorms. (WebMD – skin problems)

19. Roughly 10% of the population suffers from athlete’s foot or nail fungus (Jones, Larissa. P. 289)

20. Americans spend an average of 18 billion dollars annually on skin-related products, including hair care (Cooksley. p.160)

21. Wrinkles are the skin folding in on itself. The collagen becomes criss-crossed and hard, greatly diminishing its ability to retain moisture. (Cooksley, p.164)

22. More than 7,000 Americans every year are “afflicted” with skin cancer. (Cooksley, p. 164.).

23. People with dark skin and hair will generally retain a more youthful appearance than others who have fair skin, freckles, and light colored hair (because their skin is oilier). (Cooksley, p.164.)

24. 90% of the symptoms of aging skin are caused by exposure to ultraviolet light, and most of these effects occur before age 20. (http://dermatology.about.com/cs/beauty/a/wrinklecause.htm)

25. The number of epidermal cells decreases by 10% per decade and they divide more slowly as we age, making the skin less able to repair itself quickly. (same source as above)

26. Hair is the only body structure that is completely renewable without scarring. (The Biology of Hair)   

      

27. Hair grows about six inches per year. (The Biology of Hair)

Resources: 

American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS). Aroma 201 manual. © 2007.

Cooksley, Valerie. Aromatherapy – A Lifetime Guide to Healing With Essential Oils. Prentice-Hall. New Jersey. USA. © 1996.

Jones, Larissa. “Aromatherapy for Body, Mind, and Spirit”. Evergreen Aromatherapy. Salt Lake City, Utah. © Evergreen Aromatherapy, 2001.

Lizuka, Hajime (1994) “Epidermal Turnover Time”. Journal of Dermatological Science 8 (3): 215-218.

The Biology of Hair.  www.dermatology.about.com. Accessed 11/28/2010.

What Causes Wrinkles? http://dermatology.about.com/cs/beauty/a/wrinklecause.htm. Accessed 11/27/2010.

WebMD www.webMD.com/skin-problems. Accessed 11/27/2010.