Skin Health

Most of us first start to pay attention to our skin health during our teen years, when annoyingly persistent blemishes appear on the face, chest, or back. We all remember the sudsy cleanser, pimple cream, and light moisturizer we used as a baseline skin-care routine during those days—but as most of us learn, taking care of your skin is a very personal process. What keeps one person’s skin healthy can be totally different for another person, and finding the right skin-care routine can be a frustrating endeavor. Like any other part of your body, your skin will definitely let you know when something isn’t quite right, from acne and allergic reactions to eczema and psoriasis. Here’s what you need to know about common skin disorders and how to maintain healthy skin.

What goes on inside your body can play a major role in your skin health.

Amanda K Bailey

Your skin is actually your body’s largest organ and a crucial part of its natural defense because it’s your first barrier against potentially harmful pathogens like bacteria, UV light, chemicals, and physical injuries.¹ It also helps regulate your body temperature and allows you to feel certain tactile sensations, like hot and cold, pain, and pressure. When teamed up with your hair, nails, oil glands, and sweat glands, your skin makes up your integumentary system, which is the outer covering of your body.

Your skin is made up of three main layers,² all of which have their own intricate layers:

• Epidermis: As the top layer of skin that you can physically see and touch, your epidermis is in charge of making new skin cells that have different functions, like giving your skin its color via the pigment melanin and protecting your body through special cells that are part of your immune system.
• Dermis: Your dermis, the middle skin layer, makes up about 90% of your skin’s thickness, per the Cleveland Clinic. It produces sweat through special glands, contains nerve endings to help you feel things, grows hair, makes oil to keep your skin soft and smooth, and brings blood to your skin.
• Hypodermis: Also known as the deep subcutaneous fat layer, your hypodermis attaches your dermis to your muscle and bones through connective tissue. It also supports blood vessels and nerve cells, controls your body temperature, and stores fat to cushion your bones and muscles.

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Everyone’s skin is different, so “healthy” can be a pretty subjective term. However, there are a few key factors a board-certified dermatologist—a doctor who specializes in treating skin, hair, and nails—will look for to ensure your skin is in good shape, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD):

• Your skin isn’t overly dry, itchy, irritated, or flaking.
• Your skin isn’t burned or damaged from UV light.
• You have a consistent skin texture that isn’t rough or bumpy.
• Your skin is clear and generally even in color and tone.
• Your skin is generally free of rashes, bumps, or other blemishes.
• Your moles aren’t too large and are evenly shaped and colored.

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