Dr Fadzilah Adibah...

Speaker: Dr Fadzilah Adibah Abd Majid
Dates: 18 December 2006

Skin Physiology

Skin is the largest organ in our body. There are eight functions of the skin which include sebum secretion, heat regulation (cooling & warming), absorption of chemical substances, protection thru these few things (sebum, melanin, sensory nerve endings), toxic elimination, sensation, vitamin D formulation and melanin formation.

Skin has two layers which are dermis and epidermis. Epidermis is the layer of the skin that can be seen and has no blood supply to it. It has five sub layers. In human, the skin color can be determined by the melanin that is produces by melanocytes in the lowest sub layer. Melanin protects the skin against sun damage. Melanin production increases as the skin expose to the sun to protect it from UV ray. That is why the skin of African is darker than the Asian. It is because they are exposed to the sun more than Asian. The inner layer which is known as true skin is dermis. It is connected to the blood and lymph supply and contains many living cells including sweat glands, sebaceous glands, nerve endings and hair follicles. In dermis, there are specialized cells (fibroblasts, mast cells, histiocystes and leucocytes), collagen and elastin.

A good product is based on the best research and ingredients. In order to get the best formula, we have to do research about the skin first. Skin disorder such as bacterial infection, viral infection and fungal, pigmentation disorder and skin cancer are about to happen recently. Therefore, to prevent and cure it, we should know the skin types and its care. There are normal skin, oily skin, comedonic skin, asphyxiated skin, acneic skin and hypersensitive skin. Cosmeceutical and nutraceutical are two ways to maintain the skin. Proper nutrition is essential for healthy and youthful skin. Fruits and vegetables should be consumed at least five (5) servings per day. Skin problems are often a sign of vitamin deficiency. We also have to drink plenty of water as water is required by the body to hydrate and replenish cells plus it is uses to transport nutrients to the whole body and dissolve and eliminate toxins. We are aimed to consume one (1) to two (2) liters water per day.