November marks the celebration of the body’s largest organ, the skin. Nevertheless, it’s no secret that having healthy skin starts with taking care of it all year round. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology sponsors National Healthy Skin Month each year, and their website features a wealth of resources on what it takes to keep the skin healthy, as well as advice from dermatology experts on how to treat and prevent common skin problems.
Your Skin Is Important Because…
It serves many essential functions like:
- Protection against trauma
- Regulation of body temperature
- Maintaining the balance of water and electrolytes
- Recognizing painful and pleasant stimuli
- Helps in synthesizing vitamin D
The skin keeps vital nutrients in the body while providing a barrier against dangerous substances from entering the body. For example, it provides a shield from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Moreover, the color of your skin, its texture, and folds help differentiate people as individuals. The skin consists of three layers, and each is responsible for performing specific tasks.
- Epidermis– The outermost layer of the skin that creates a waterproof barrier and skin tone.
- Dermis– The next layer of the skin that gives the skin its flexibility and strength. The dermis contains nerve endings, sweat glands, oil glands, hair follicles, and blood vessels.
- Fat layer– Below the dermis is a layer of fat that helps insulate the body from heat and cold. It also provides protective padding and is used as an energy storage area.
#YourHealthiestSkin
You can celebrate National Healthy Skin Month by:
- Visiting the AAD website to learn ways to take care of your skin better by exploring one of their many online resource articles.
- Sharing your healthy skin story on social media using the hashtag #YourHealthiestSkin
- Doing a self-skin check for changes and potential spots for skin cancer. See a dermatologist immediately for any concerns.
Furthermore, managing chronic skin conditions can be challenging, especially when symptoms persist despite trying several options. Participating in clinical research studies is a great way to potentially gain access to the newest cutting-edge options before being made available to the public. Clinical research volunteers can also have the opportunity to learn more about their condition from study medical staff, which may even lead to the better management of conditions.
ActivMed Practices & Research has several dermatology studies currently enrolling that are looking into possible new options. Explore your options today by clicking here for our Beverly, MA location and here for our Portsmouth, NH office.
Sources:
https://www.aad.org/public/public-health/awareness-campaigns/national-healthy-skin-month