The Human Skin

If the client experiences watery eyes then a tissue should be used to carefully blot the area.

comparing the body’s organs, none is more easily exposed to disease, infection and injury than the skin. Understanding a burn injury requires much more recognition of the skin anatomy and physiology. Structurally, the skin consists of two principle parts. The superficial, thinner portion, which is composed of epithelial tissue, called the dermis. Deep to the dermis is a subcutaneous layer called the hypodermis, consisting of areolar and adipose tissues. Fibers from the dermis extend into the subcutaneous layer and connects the skin to it. This layer, in turn, attaches to underlying tissues and organs. The skin serves several functions, the first being regulation of body temperature. It also plays a vital role in protection, acting as a physical

Skin is one of the main physical aspects which distinguishes humans from other species. Skin is an important feature because it has sweat glands, which regulate body temperature (Jablonski 2004). This was especially useful when homo sapiens first originated and roamed Africa and other tropical areas (Jablonski 2004). Perhaps the most interesting aspect of skin is the disparity of its color on different people in different parts of the world. Skin color is determined by melanin; if a person has more melanin their skin, hair, and eyes will be darker (Parra 2007). Many scientists and anthropologists have discussed the purpose and significance of skin color variation in evolutionary terms. The main argument involving skin color is that highly melanized

Stratum Corneum this layer is the outer most layers; it is formed from numerous layers of compressed scale- like, overlapping cells. What makes up the surface of the skin is corneocytes, which are commonly called ‘dead skin cells’. Keratinocytes are found in the epidermis they travel up through the layer where they are formed into corneocytes. The stratum corneum layer protects against lights, chemicals, water loss, heat and bacteria.

The primary function of skin is to form a physical and chemical barrier to the external environment, against injurious insults. Harmful stimuli such as micro-organisms, ultraviolet radiation, toxic agents or irritants evoke a complex response known as inflammation. Inflammation is an essential response in the protection against injurious insults. The five classical signs of acute inflammation are pain, heat, redness, swelling, and functional loss. These signs can be explained by the different phases that the inflammatory response generally follows dilation of capillaries to increase blood flow, vasopermeabilization, leukocyte recruitment elimination of pathogens or injurious stimuli and resolution of inflammation [85]. At the molecular level,

Epidermolysis bullosa first presents itself between birth and early childhood and affects both genders and every race and ethnicity (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). When important structural proteins are faulty or not present within the skin of a patient, the skin loses its strength and stability. More specifically, EB Simplex, one of the major subtypes of EB, lacks proper functioning of Keratins 5, 14 and/or a structural protein called plectin in the epidermis (Debra). Since keratin proteins provide strength and resiliency to the outer layer of skin, and plectin helps make up the cell’s cytoskeleton, not having properly functioning proteins created an unstable epidermal layer. As a result, fluid-like blisters form in the top most layer of skin

Like we learned in chapter 1 the job of the integumentary system is to cover and protect the body but what happens if your skin develops a disease like eczema? Eczema is a chronic, common, non-infective inflammatory condition characterized by intense pruritus, redness, and scaling (Eczema, p.1). This condition can appear at any age, but it usually occurs during infancy or early childhood (Eczema, p.1). Eczema or any skin disease are the most common group of occupational health problems leading to absence from work (Eczema, p.1). Several factors play a big role in eczema, both internally and externally, depending on your genetic makeup you may be prone to getting eczema in as early as a few months after you were born or by allergens as a young

Eczema is a medical condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed, with blisters that cause itching and bleeding, sometimes resulting from a reaction to irritation but more typically having no obvious external cause.Atopic dermatitis (known as eczema) is an inherited, chronic inflammatory skin condition that usually appears in early childhood. Patches of skin become red, scaly and itchy. The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but it's thought to be linked to an overactive response by the body's immune system to an irritant. It is this response that causes the symptoms of eczema. In addition, eczema is commonly found in families with a history of other allergies or asthma.It is also important to avoid skin irritants, such as soap, hot water and synthetic fabrics.Everyday things in your environment cigarette smoke, pollen, and even your clothes can cause eczema to flare.

The first line of defense is formed by the stratum corneum, the uppermost layer of the epidermis. In the stratum corneum, filaggrin (FLG), a late epidermal differentiation protein, plays a pivotal role in the barrier function. It has been reported that loss of function variant of FLG gene leads to impaired skin barrier function and strong predisposing factor for atopic dermatitis (Palmer et al., 2006). FLG mutations may also increase the susceptibility to haptens, because mutations within the FLG gene were reported to represent a predisposition to contact allergy in both mice (Moniaga et al., 2010) and humans (de Jongh et al., 2008; Novak et al., 2008). On the other hand, other reports failed to find a clear association between contact allergy risk and FLG mutations (Lerbaek et al., 2007; Schnuch et al., 2010); therefore, further studies are needed to conclude the association between FLG mutation and contact dermatitis. Tight junctions are a second barrier to block antigen penetration into the skin. These junctions are composed of several proteins such as claudins and occludins in the stratum granulosum. Protein antigens are blocked from penetrating the body by this barrier. It has recently been reported that activated Langerhans cells (LCs) can elongate their dendrites above this barrier to take up protein antigens (Kubo et al., 2009), and the deficiency of LCs leads to reduced clinical

It regulates the body's temperature by movements of the hairs on the surface, different paths for the

When small pores on the surface of the skin become obstructed with bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells. Each pore opens to a follicle beneath the epidermis, and within that follicle is a singular hair and sebaceous gland. A sebaceous gland generates sebum, an oil that is essential to keeping skin soft and lubricated.

Psoriasis is an irritating skin disease that primarily affects the scalp and extensor surfaces of the knees and elbows, though it can develop anywhere in the body. It is characterized by patches of abnormal skin that are typically red, itchy and scaly. It occurs when the reproduction of basal cells which are set at the bottom of several layers of cell and from which the skin growth increases dramatically. The upper layer of skin cannot shed the dead cells at the same rate and this scaly build-up occurs. The increase in basal cell production is believed to be caused by an imbalance of 2 natural chemical complexes called cAMP, which inhibits cell growth and cGMP which encourages cell growth. Proteins and toxins from bacterial and yeast metabolism

that are important for maintaining the barrier function of the skin (2). The pathogenesis of

In 2009 a study carried out by scientists at the University of Edinburgh concluded that the defects in a particular gene known as the filaggrin gene are linked to a considerably amplified risk of developing allergic disorders such as eczema, rhinitis, and asthma (Varanasi, 2000 in Hedge et.al, 2010). The typical locations of eczema include the face (scalp and around the eyes), the

Under The Skin (2014) Disturbing, nightmarish and isolating; Under The Skin is a shift in direction from Jonathan Glazer's Sexy Beast (2000). Johansson plays an attractive alien in this unconventional sci-fi where her exact motives are unknown; but as she seduces males one by one she begins to identify and explore her physical form as a female whilst experiencing both the sensitive and destructive sides of the human race. Uncomfortable and slow burning; there is an impending sense of dread throughout the film owed to the prolonged shots and dialogue light script; which at times can make for restless viewing. The first half of the film takes place in the streets of Glasgow; the film displays the grittiness of the city well with unflattering