Your skin does plenty for your health, so caring for it is key. Here’s how to make skin care work for you.

1. What is skin exactly?
2. What does your skin do?
3. How does aging affect your skin?
4. What are some common skin conditions?
5. What causes skin cancer?
6. How do you protect your skin against the sun?
7. How can you improve your skin health?
8. When should you see a doctor about skin issues?

When you think about the major organs in your body, you likely think first about your heart, lungs or brain. Would it surprise you to learn that your skin is actually the largest organ?

It’s also one of the most important: It has many functions that support your overall health. That’s why skin care is so important. It not only improves the appearance of your skin but also protects one of your most essential organs.

Below, learn what you need to know about skin care and what measures you can take to keep your skin healthy.

What is skin exactly?

Even though skin is less than 2 millimeters thick at most, it’s still the largest organ. Skin consists of 3 different layers:

• Outer layer (epidermis): The skin’s outermost layer, or epidermis, is constantly renewing itself, bringing up new cells that are made in the lower layers. That allows for the continual replacement of cells that are damaged or lost when skin is cast off. The cells in this layer grow faster in response to pressure, which is why you might get a callus in an area that has frequent rubbing. The epidermis also stores the pigment, called melanin, that determines the color of your skin.
  
• Middle layer (dermis): This layer contains a dense network of nerves, blood capillaries, sweat glands, hair follicles, sebaceous glands that produce oil, and tough and elastic collagen fibers (which make skin stretchy). The capillaries allow nutrients to pass into cells, and they also regulate body temperature, helping it cool down if it gets too hot.
  
• Deepest layer (subcutaneous): The subcutaneous layer of your skin is mostly made up of connective tissue and fat. It serves as insulation and as a shock absorber to protect the bones and joints below it from damage.

Skin thickness varies depending on its location (it’s thicker on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, for instance), as well as based on your age and sex. If you’re over 50, you’ll generally have thinner skin than younger people. Men also tend to have thicker skin than women.

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What does your skin do?

The most obvious function of your skin is to create a barrier between your muscles, tendons, nerves, and vascular system and the outside world. But that’s far from your skin’s only job. Here’s what else it does:

• Helps regulate body temperature
• Prevents moisture loss and dehydration
• Converts ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunshine into vitamin D
• Prevents harmful bacteria from entering the body
• Sends information regarding touch, pressure, irritation and pain to the brain
• Provides indications of ill health, based on color and structure
• Stores water and fat

Your skin even contains tiny muscular structures called arrector pili muscles that control the position of hairs. These are the muscles that activate when you feel stressed, nervous or cold (a reaction commonly known as “goose bumps” or “goose pimples”).

How does aging affect your skin?

As you age, your skin loses fat and becomes thinner, and that can lead to wrinkles and more dryness. Age spots may appear on your skin as well, which are often caused by years of sun exposure. These appear most often on the face, hands, arms, back and feet.

Skin tags may start showing up as well. These small flesh-colored growths are generally harmless. They tend to pop up on your eyelids, neck, armpits, groin and chest.

Wound prevention and care are especially important as you get older. Thinning skin is more prone to cuts and bruises, and healing can take up to 4 times longer than it would in younger people. If you have blood vessel issues, immune system difficulties or diabetes, healing may be even slower.

Because of that, adopting healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising regularly and not smoking, is key. It’s also important to treat skin gently (avoid harsh scrubs or products) and moisturize often.

What are some common skin conditions?

There are numerous issues that can affect your skin and the way it functions. The most common ones tend to be:

• Acne: The bane of many teenagers (and some adults), acne develops when hair follicles become plugged with oil and debris. Because oil glands get stimulated during hormone changes, acne tends to occur most during puberty. But you can get acne at any age, and for some it might be a lifelong condition.
  
• Contact dermatitis: Just as the name suggests, this temporary condition occurs when your skin is exposed to an irritating substance, such as poison ivy or cleaning products. You might develop a red rash; itchy, dry, cracked skin; or blisters that ooze, along with swelling, burning or tenderness.
  
• Eczema: Also called atopic dermatitis, eczema most often affects children. The exact cause is unknown, but it may be related to genetics or an immune system response. Eczema shows up as dry, scaly skin patches and can be very itchy.
  
• Hives: Often the result of an allergic reaction to food, bug bites or prescription medication, hives are raised, red areas on the skin that tend to be very itchy. They will fade and disappear within a few hours, but if your breathing is also affected when they appear, seek emergency treatment. You could be having a more serious allergic reaction.
  
• Psoriasis: This skin disease is a long-term, chronic autoimmune condition that can flare up at different times. It causes red, scaly, itchy patches on your skin that may look like burn scars, due to the rapid multiplication of your skin cells.

There are also conditions that can affect the skin’s appearance but aren’t considered skin conditions. For example, jaundice is a buildup of the pigment bilirubin in the body that turns the skin yellowish. But it originates with problems in the liver, not the skin. And red, itchy rashes might indicate allergies or infections, while a red “butterfly” rash on the face can be a sign of lupus, an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system attacks your own body’s tissues and organs.

What causes skin cancer?

The main cause of skin cancer is overexposure to UV light, mostly from sunshine, although it can also happen from too much time in tanning beds. People of any color can get skin cancer, although those with fair skin and freckles have the highest risk. That’s because they have less melanin, a pigment that helps protect against the sun’s harmful rays.

There are 3 main types of skin cancer:

• Basal cell carcinoma: It most often affects areas that get direct exposure to the sun, such as your face.
• Squamous cell carcinoma: This shows up as red patches, open sores, rough patches or raised growths with a central depression.
• Melanoma: This is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, and in rare cases it may even develop in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, stomach or eyes.

Melanoma is considered the most dangerous type of skin cancer, because it can spread more rapidly to other organs. The first 2 types are more common, but they don’t often spread to other parts of the body.

Early detection is key when addressing any type of skin cancer — and because skin cancer is rarely painful, the first step is to look for changes to your skin. You’ll want to pay particular attention to sores that don’t heal or moles that are growing or bleeding. Check birthmarks and moles for these changes:

• Asymmetry, where one half of the growth looks different than the other half
• Irregular borders
• Color variations
• Diameter greater than the size of a pencil eraser
• Changes in shape, size or color
• Bleeding, tenderness or itching

If you have any of these signs, see a dermatologist. This skin specialist can diagnose and help treat any suspicious spots.

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How do you protect your skin against the sun?

First let’s clarify: You do need some sun exposure so your body can produce vitamin D, which helps strengthen your immune system, bones and teeth. But that doesn’t mean more is better. To keep your skin protected, consider these steps:

• Try to avoid being in direct sunlight during peak times, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.
• Don’t be fooled by cloudy skies, since UVA rays can go through clouds.
• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, and choose one that’s labeled “broad spectrum,” which means it will protect you from UVA and UVB rays.
• Speaking of sunscreen, put it on 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside, and reapply it every 2 hours if you are swimming or exercising (and sweating it off).
• Wear protective clothing like a wide-brimmed hat and long-sleeved shirt.
• Look for sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.

How can you improve your skin health?

Although products like moisturizers and sunscreen are important for better skin care, lifestyle habits also make a big difference in your skin’s health. Experts agree that these everyday strategies can have a major impact on your skin, as well as every other system and organ in your body:

• Don’t smoke (or if you do, think about quitting).
• Exercise regularly.
• Manage stress.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Get quality sleep.
• Stay hydrated.

These strategies have all been shown to improve your skin, because they reduce inflammation, make your immune response more effective and improve blood flow. Those responses can give your skin a healthy glow and support your overall health in numerous ways. Other skin care tips that can benefit your skin’s texture, strength and color:

• Use a gentle cleanser in the morning and evening.
• Moisturize regularly, especially when you first get out of the shower or bath.
• Try not to touch your face, which can spread bacteria from your fingers.
• Bathe in warm water rather than hot water, which can reduce moisture in the skin.
• Don’t use tanning beds or sunlamps.

When should you see a doctor about skin issues?

Mild skin issues — such as an occasional acne flare-up, contact dermatitis from touching irritating plants while outdoors, or age-related changes like wrinkles and age spots — don’t usually require a trip to the doctor or dermatologist. But if you’re seeing changes that could suggest skin cancer, or if you’re concerned about issues that don’t seem to be getting better, consider seeing a dermatologist to get to the root of the problem.

See a dermatologist where and when it works for you. Learn about our HealthiestYou telehealth membership, which starts as low as $20/month, or call 1-844-211-7730 for more information.

For informational purposes only. This information is compiled by UnitedHealthcare and does not diagnose problems or recommend specific treatment. Services and medical technologies referenced herein may not be covered under your plan. Please consult directly with your primary care physician if you need medical advice.

Sources:

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