SO TELL ME WHAT'S UNDER MY SKIN!

BLOG ENTRIES ON THE SKIN

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

To everyone out there suffering from eczema, here's your chance to learn more about this skin condition! *Don't miss out my personal encounter with eczema! (It's at the bottom of this whole post so you have to patiently read and learn about eczema before reading my personal experience with eczema)

What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a group of skin conditions that cause skin to become red, irritated, itchy, and sometimes develop small, fluid-filled bumps that become moist and ooze. There are many forms of eczema, but atopic eczema is one of the most common and severe.
In general, eczema is fairly common — approximately 1 in 10 people in the world will be affected by it at some point in their lives.

Signs and Symptoms
It can be difficult to avoid all the triggers, or irritants, that may cause or worsen eczema flare-ups. In many people, the itchy patches of eczema usually appear where the elbow bends; on the backs of the knees, ankles, and wrists; and on the face, neck, and upper chest — although any part of the body can be affected.

In an eczema flare-up, skin may feel hot and itchy at first. Then, if the person scratches, the skin may become red, inflamed, or blistered. Some people who have eczema scratch their skin so much it becomes almost leathery in texture. Others find that their skin becomes extremely dry and scaly. Even though many people have eczema, the symptoms can vary quite a bit from person to person.

Can I Prevent Eczema?
Eczema can't be cured, but there are plenty of things you can do to prevent a flare-up. For facial eczema, wash gently with a non-drying facial cleanser , use a facial moisturizer that is oil-free, and apply only hypoallergenic makeup and sunscreens.
In addition:
1)Avoid substances that stress your skin. ( household cleaners, drying soaps, detergents, and fragranced lotions)
2)Say yes to cotton. Clothes made of scratchy fabric like wool can irritate your skin. Cotton clothes are a better bet.
3)Moisturize! A fragrance-free moisturizer such as petroleum jelly will prevent your skin from becoming irritated and cracked.
4)Don't scratch that itch. Even though it's difficult to resist, scratching your itch can worsen eczema and make it more difficult for the skin to heal because you can break the skin and bacteria can get in, causing an infection.
5)Keep your cool. Sudden changes in temperature, sweating, and becoming overheated may cause your eczema to kick in.
6)Take your medication. Follow your doctor's or dermatologist's directions and take your medication as directed.
7)Unwind. Stress can aggravate eczema, so try to relax.

Personal experience with the 'Itchy-E' [MUST-READ]

I've experienced eczema on my feet when I was younger and it was a really bad memory! My skin became inflamed after I scratched myself due to the itch. Eventually, both my feet became red and the pain was unbearable! T.T After the wounds on my feet healed and my little feet were no longer blistered, the skin on my feet became dry, cracked and scaly. With the skin on my feet either getting inflamed or peeling off every other day, my feet looked really ugly.

Eczema was really a traumatising experience for me back then as even visits to the doctor failed to stop the itch and inflamation on my feet. Eczema usually clears up before the age of 25, and luckily for me, this skin condition never happened to me since I entered Secondary school.

Researching for this topic has been an enriching experience for me as I finally had a chance to understand more about this childhood nightmare of mine =]

So, to all my friends out there who are stil under the evil clutches of eczema,there's good news for you — it usually clears up before the age of 25. Until then, you can learn to tune in to what triggers eczema and manage the condition. Hope this blog post can aid all of you in your fights against eczema!

-Shuyi ( ex-victim of eczema^^)

i thought about my skin
at 8:53 PM

“Factors like pollution, sun rays, stress, irregular food habits, inadequate sleep etc contribute to skin damage and premature aging of skin. Thus, it is necessary to take basic minimal care of one’s skin.”

Do you love your skin? If you do, do you actually take time off your busy schedule to care for it? For those who have been neglecting your skin, fret not! Here are some basic skin care tips that can help you get that radiant glow back on your pretty faces!

Basic Skin Care
Good basic skin care is sensible care of the skin. It can be accomplished without expensive products. The basic ingredients to start you on maintenance of your skin consist of gentle soap and water, moisturizer, sunscreen and some basic knowledge of when to see your doctor if you think there are any problems with your skin. If you try to stay as natural as possible with your products, avoid harmful UV rays and maintain mental and physical health, your skin will be in optimum condition.

Soaps and Cleansers
Cleaning with soap and water removes most environmental and natural skin surface substances, such as dirt, cosmetics, oils, bacteria, sweat and dead skin cells.

Soaps to avoid (>.<) are strong medicated soaps, abrasive soaps as well as herbal soaps, especially on the face. Even mild soaps or cleansers can still be drying to your skin. You can minimize a soap's tendency to be drying by being gentle with cleaning and taking care not to scrub excessively. Often water alone is adequate for skin cleansing.

Moisturizers - When to use them?
Naturally moist, smooth and supple skin results from sufficient amounts of water, oil and special chemicals called natural moisturising factors. Under ordinary circumstances 95 percent of each of our cell is made up of water. It is the water content of your skin cells that determines how moist or supple your skin is.

Avoiding dry skin is therefore one of the key elements in good basic skin care. Dry skin can also make you more prone to scaling, cracking, irritation, eczema and infections. Factors that cause or aggravate dry skin include: harsh soaps, excessive bathing, low humidity and hereditary factors. Dry skin cannot be treated by drinking extra water or eating oily foods.

Moisturizers cannot restore youth, rejuvenate your skin or dissolve your wrinkles. They should be applied on a daily basis especially after your bath. Inexpensive, basic moisturizers generally do as good a job as expensive ones. Be skeptical of wild promises which any product claims; many such claims are not substantiated by any scientific evidence.

Sun protection - How useful is it?
The sun is responsible for premature aging. It hastens wrinkling and tanning of your skin, as well as causes the appearance of blotchy brownish discoloration. It is the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight that is responsible for suntans, sunburns, premature aging (wrinkles and pigmentation) and some types of skin cancers.

Clothing also has some bearing on the effects of sun exposure. Cotton fabrics provide superior protection from sunlight and tightly woven fabrics afford better protection than loose weaves.

As a guide most sunscreens should be applied at least twenty to thirty minutes before going out. You should re-apply after prolonged swimming or excessive perspiration.

When to seek professional advice?
Good basic skin care also means that you recognize problems that arise in the skin and seek professional advice early. If you develop a rash, itch, pigmentation problems or skin growths, see your family doctor or a dermatologist. Do not attempt self-cures. Specific problems should be treated by a professional.

Congratulations, you’ve actually finished reading this whole lengthy post about basic skincare! Although you would probably have spent quite awhile reading all these, I’m sure you agree that its time well spent! =] All the best to you and your skin, don’t forget to take good care of it!

-Shuyi (now I know how to take care of my skin too!)

i thought about my skin
at 8:11 PM

Thursday, March 6, 2008

DRY SKIN

I'm sure it doesn't feel good to be labelled as having skin "as rough as the sandpaper". When we were young, our skin was the epitome of youth: smooth, supple, always perfectly moisturized. But having passed the golden age of my teen years, my skin is beginning to show the harsh ravages of daily life and is no longer moisturized. Thus I am very concerned about treating dry skin and I'm here to share with you all some information on this condition.

Dry skin is defined as flaking or scaling -- which may or may not be itchy -- when there is no evidence of dermatitis, or inflammation, of the skin. Some flaking along with redness, however, may be a sign of an underlying dermatitis. It occurs mostly on the shins, hands and sides of the abdomen.

Millions of people around the world have dry skin—especially during the winter months—and millions more buy the vast number of skin care products to counteract dry skin. But moisturizers aren't the only solution. With only a few lifestyle changes, you can moisturize your skin. Treatment is important because extensively dry skin can lead to dermatitis, a more severe inflammation of the skin.

Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of dry skin depend on your age, your health status, your locale, the amount of time you spend outdoors, and the cause of the problem. If you have dry skin due to normal aging, you're likely to experience one or more of the following:

1. A feeling of skin tightness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming
2. Skin that appears shrunken or dehydrated
3. Skin that feels and looks rough rather than smooth
4. Itching (pruritus) that sometimes may be intense
5. Slight to severe flaking, scaling or peeling
6. Fine lines or cracks
7. Redness
8. Deep fissures that may bleed

Causes of Dry Skin
You can't cure dry skin if you don't know what's causing it.

1. The wonders of winter: If you thought the winter months meant cozy fires and homemade soup, think again. The winter months mean dry skin for a lot of people because the air is colder, drier and less humid (not conducive to moisturizing your skin). Another reason is that you spend more time indoors, where it's warmer, but drier.

2. Inheritance: You may have inherited your mother's personality and your father's good looks, but you also got their dry skin.

3. You want fries with that?: A poor diet means more than just a big belly. If you're lacking in vitamins A and B, you might be lucky enough to get dry skin.

4. The elements: The sun (fire), wind, water and earth all contribute to dry skin. Yes, even water -- showering removes the natural oils coating your body.

5. Medical complications: Skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema (dermatitis) will also dry out your skin.

6. Central heating and air conditioning: Central air and heating, wood-burning stoves, space heaters and fireplaces all reduce humidity and dry your skin.

7. Hot baths and showers: Frequent showering or bathing, especially if the water is hot and your baths are long, breaks down the lipid barriers in your skin. So does frequent swimming, particularly in heavily chlorinated pools.

8. Harsh soaps and detergents: Many popular soaps and detergents strip lipids and water from your skin. Deodorant and antibacterial soaps are usually the most damaging, as are many shampoos, which dry out your scalp.

9. Thyroid disorders: Hypothyroidism, a condition that occurs when your thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormones, reduces the activity of your sweat and oil glands, leading to rough, dry skin.

Treatment
1. Long hot showers are one of the major causes of dry skin. You may feel clean and refreshed, but in a matter of minutes, your skin will look chapped and parched. The easiest solution to this problem is to not take as many showers. You do not need five showers a day. But if you must shower after every meal, then cut down on the duration of each shower. Long showers wash off more of your natural oils. Besides, instead of hot water (which will soften up the oils and make it easier to wash away), use warm water—it's better for your skin, scalp and hair.

2. While showering, try not to use soap. Soap irritates and dries the skin. If you just can't shower without soap, use a mild bar soap. Liquid soap, shower gels, glycerin soap and deodorant soap are all very harsh to your skin. Try to use the soap only on parts of the body that really need it, particularly your face and feet.

3. Once you are done showering (seems like everything you were doing in the shower was bad for your skin), pat your skin dry with a towel. Rubbing dry will further irritate the skin. Leave the skin a little damp. Immediately after, moisturize your skin with bath oil or moisturizing lotion.

4. Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration will not help your skin look its very best.

5. During the winter months, when the air is drier both indoors and outdoors, use a mist vaporizer or humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home.

6. When using moisturizers, the general rule is "the oilier, the better." Oil-based moisturizers work better than water-based moisturizers because they do not evaporate and can trap the water better. Furthermore, water-based moisturizers contain alcohol and may dry the skin when used repeatedly.

7. If you have very dry and scaly skin, it is recommended that you use a cream that contains lactic acid or lactic acid and urea.

8. Sometimes dry skin leads to dermatitis, which causes red, itchy skin. In these cases, treatment may include hydrocortisone-containing lotions. If the skin cracks open, the doctor may prescribe wet dressings with mildly astringent properties to contract your skin and reduce secretions and prevent infection.

9. Use a humidifier. Hot, dry indoor air can parch sensitive skin and worsen itching and flaking. A humidifier adds moisture to the air inside your home. Be sure to keep your humidifier clean to ward off bacteria and fungi.

10. Choose fabrics that are kind to your skin. Natural fibers such as cotton and silk allow your skin to breathe. But wool, although it certainly qualifies as natural, can irritate even normal skin. When washing clothes, try to use detergents without dyes or perfumes, both of which can irritate your skin.

If these measures do not relieve your symptoms or worsen your symptoms, see your doctor or consult a dermatologist.

So, always remember to care for your skin!

Gek Teng

i thought about my skin
at 10:57 PM

Monday, March 3, 2008

i'm sure everyone knows what acne is, or has even suffered from acne before. so, i'm here to share with everyone what acne is...

WHAT IS (THE MUCH DREADED) ACNE?
Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones on the skin's oil glands (sebaceous glands), which leads to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples or zits. Acne lesions usually occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Although acne is not a serious health threat, severe acne can lead to disfiguring, permanent scarring, which can be upsetting to people who are affected by the disorder.

How Does Acne Develop?
Doctors describe acne as a disease of the pilosebaceous units (PSUs). Found over most of the body, PSUs consist of a sebaceous gland connected to a canal, called a follicle, that contains a fine hair (see "Normal Pilosebaceous Unit" diagram, below). These units are most numerous on the face, upper back, and chest. The sebaceous glands make an oily substance called sebum that normally empties onto the skin surface through the opening of the follicle, commonly called a pore. Cells called keratinocytes line the follicle.

image: normal pilosebaceous unit

The hair, sebum, and keratinocytes that fill the narrow follicle may produce a plug, which is an early sign of acne. The plug prevents sebum from reaching the surface of the skin through a pore. The mixture of oil and cells allows bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that normally live on the skin to grow in the plugged follicles. These bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes and attract white blood cells that cause inflammation.

When the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, it spills everything into the nearby skin--sebum, shed skin cells, and bacteria--leading to lesions or pimples.
People with acne frequently have a variety of lesions, such as the basic acne lesion, called the comedo, which is simply an enlarged and plugged hair follicle. If the plugged follicle, or comedo, stays beneath the skin, it is called a closed comedo and produces a white bump called a whitehead. A comedo that reaches the surface of the skin and opens up is called a blackhead because it looks black on the skin's surface. Both whiteheads and blackheads may stay in the skin for a long time.

What causes acne?
The exact cause of acne is unknown, but doctors believe it results from several related factors. One important factor is an increase in hormones called androgens (male sex hormones). These increase in both boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum.
Another factor is heredity or genetics. Researchers believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents. Certain drugs, including androgens and lithium, are known to cause acne. Greasy cosmetics may alter the cells of the follicles and make them stick together, producing a plug.

What are the factors that make acne worse?
Factors that can cause an acne flare include:

Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and adult women 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period starts
Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin
Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity
Squeezing or picking at blemishes
Hard scrubbing of the skin

How Should People With Acne Care for Their Skin?
People with Acne can try the following:

Clean skin gently
Avoid Frequent Handling of the Skin
Shave Carefully
Avoid a Sunburn or Sun tan
Choose Cosmetics Carefully

So, don't worry if youre down with acne, i'm sure with proper care, your skin will recover. Meanwhile, DONT SCRATCH THAT PIMPLE!

-amanda

i thought about my skin
at 7:09 PM

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Recently, I received a surge of patients approaching me for advice on treating wrinkles. In order to save the trouble of everyone approaching your doctors for knowledge on wrinkles, let me share some information on wrinkles with all of you here.

Causes of Wrinkles
As ageing occurs, a person's skin cells divide more slowly, and the dermis becomes thinner. Wrinkles develop as we get older because natural substances such as collagen (the major structural protein in the skin), elastin (the protein that causes tissue to stretch) and hyaluronic acid (which gives skin volume), which provide the skin with structure and volume decrease with age. The skin's ability to retain moisture diminishes; the sweat and oil-secreting glands degenerate. As a result, the skin becomes dry and scaly. Skin loses its elasticity and when pressed, it no longer springs back to its initial position but instead sags and forms furrows or wrinkles.

The skin can also age prematurely as a result of prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Sun damage is one of the most important causes of skin ageing and skin disorders such as skin cancers. Overall, exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight accounts for about 90% of the symptoms of premature skin ageing, and most of these effects occur by age 20. Exposure to ultraviolet rays leads to wrinkles, lower immunity against infection, ageing skin disorders, and skin cancer.

During sun damage, large amounts of enzymes are produced. These enzymes remodel the sun-injured tissue by synthesising and reforming collagen. As part of the process, however, some of the enzymes actually degrade collagen. The result is an uneven formation (matrix) of disorganised collagen fibres called solar scars, which eventually result in wrinkles. Effectively protecting the skin from sun damage is one of the most important ways to reduce wrinkles and prevent skin cancer.

Other environmental factors, including cigarette smoke and pollution, may hasten ageing by producing free radicals. In large amounts, free radicals can damage cell membranes and interact with genetic material, possibly contributing to the development of a number of skin disorders, including wrinkles and skin cancer. Rapid weight loss can also cause wrinkles by reducing the volume of fat cells that cushion the face. This can cause the skin to sag.

Who is most likely to have wrinkles?
The vast majority who develop wrinkles are individuals who are repetitively exposed to the UV rays of the sun, notably farmers, fishermen, construction workers, lifeguards and outdoor enthusiasts. People who live in areas where the earth's protective ozone layer is thinning may be more likely to have sun-damaged skin. Ethnicity also influences a person's vulnerability to skin ageing. Individuals with fair complexions, and those who have blue, green, or grey eyes, and red or blond hair, are more susceptible to premature ageing than those with darker skin. Nonetheless, premature ageing from sunlight can affect all ethnic groups and everybody needs to be aware of the importance of good sun protection, as a fundamental part of anti-ageing skin care. Cigarette smokers are more prone to skin wrinkles and skin cancers. According to a study, heavy smokers are almost five times more likely to have wrinkled facial skin than non-smokers. In fact, heavy smokers in their 40s often have facial wrinkles more like those of non-smokers in their 60s. A study of 25 sets of twins found smokers to have thinner skin than non-smokers, in some cases by as much as 40%.

Treatment
Use moisturisers that improve the water-holding capacity of the skin. Use sunscreens when outdoors to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation. In addition, you can use anti-ageing formulas which may include anti-oxidants or exfoliants.

Check that you are using only neutral pH-balanced soaps, body washes and moisturisers. Make sure you avoid harsh irritants such as perfumed soaps, chlorinated swimming pools and hot showers, and moisturise regularly.

In addition you can also turn to cosmetic clinics for facial rejuvenation procedures. These procedures include the administration of injectable muscle relaxants, injectable dermal fillers and chemical peels.

Injectable muscle relaxants are used to treat dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles that occur when we use our muscles to form facial expressions) and work by relaxing the wrinkle-causing muscles that cause people to frown or squint, creating an improved appearance.

Injectable dermal fillers are used to treat static wrinkles (wrinkles that are present when we are not forming facial expressions). Injectable dermal fillers are placed beneath the wrinkle and/or fold to ‘fill in' or ‘plump up' the depression.

Usually the side effects of these wrinkle treatments are temporary and localised to the area of injection. The different types of cosmetic injection have different side effects, however in general possible side effects include swelling, pain, burning, bruising or redness at the injection site.

With chemical peels, another form of wrinkle treatment, a solution is applied to the face to remove the rough upper layer of skin and to stimulate rejuvenation of new skin cells. The result is tighter, smoother skin that is relatively free of fine lines and blemishes. Chemical peeling is recommended to reduce wrinkles, particularly fine wrinkles, and age spots, sun damage and uneven pigmentation. There are several types of chemical peel techniques: Light and medium facial peels are used to remove superficial wrinkles and discolouration, and deep chemical peels are used for more severe conditions such as severe acne.

That’s all for today! Hope you have gained some knowledge after reading this and may you be wrinkle-free!

Gek Teng

i thought about my skin
at 8:38 PM

mmm. I remmber coming down with shingles when I was a kid and it was a really horrible experience. So today, i'm going to share with you guys what causes Shingles.

What is shingles? What causes shingles?
Shingles is a skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus responsible for these conditions is called Varicella zoster. After an individual has chickenpox, this virus lives in the nerves and is never fully cleared from the body. Under certain circumstances, such as emotional stress, immune deficiency (from AIDS or chemotherapy) or with cancer, the virus is allowed to start multiplying and to move along nerve fibres towards the skin. The fact that the disease occurs more often in older people is because the immune response is believed to be weaker in older people.

What are symptoms of shingles? How long does shingles last?
The first symptom is a burning pain or tingling and extreme sensitivity in one area of the skin. This may be present for one to three days before a red rash occurs. A group of blisters then forms on a red base which looks like chicken pox lesions.
The blisters follow the path of individual nerves that comes out of the spinal cord. The entire path of the nerve may be involved or there may be areas with blisters and areas without blisters. Generally, only one nerve level is involved. In a rare case, more than one nerve will be involved.
Eventually, the blisters pop and the area starts to ooze. The area will then crust over and heal. The whole process may take three to four weeks from start to finish. On occasion, the pain will be present but the blisters may never appear. This can be a very confusing cause of local pain!

Where do shingles appear on the body ?
Shingles generally affect only one side of the body. Most commonly, blisters will appear on the trunk, including the buttocks and genitalia, or the fact. If the blisters involve the eye region, permanent eye damage can result. Your doctor will refer you immediately to an eye specialist when such a complication develops.

What are the complications of shingles ?
Post-herpetic neuralgia, a condition in which either constant or episodic pain persists for a long time after the skin has healed.
Infection of the blisters by bacteria can also cause delayed healing of the skin. Antibiotic treatment is needed.
Another complication is high fever and spread of the disease all over the body.

Is shingles contagious?
Shingles is much less contagious than chicken pox. People with shingles can spread the virus if blisters are broken and a susceptible person (someone who has never had chicken pox or who is already ill) is close by. For people who have not had chickenpox, instead of developing shingles, they develop chickenpox. Once all of the blisters are crusted over, the virus can no longer be spread.

How is shingles treated?
Shingles clears on its own in a few weeks and seldom recurs. Treatment consists of pain killers, as well as cool compresses to help dry the blisters.
The antiviral drug, acyclovir, may be given especially for patients with eye involvement or who are very ill. This is useful only if it is started early in the disease.
Acyclovir may occasionally cause headache, some stomach upset and giddiness. The earlier it is taken after the disease begins, the better the effect. The drug might prevent post-herpetic neuralgia.

a course of shingles

an example of a case of shingles

we may not be able to prevent shingles, but remember, dont ever scratch that itch!

take care,
Amanda!

i thought about my skin
at 3:55 PM

Ever heard of people who got involved in serious burns and having to go for skin grafting? Well, here’s a little information on skin grafting for all of you out there! And don't worry, although skin grafting may seem to be scary and torturous, this blog post isn't!

Skin grafting is a surgical procedure by which skin or skin substitute is placed over a burn or non-healing wound to permanently replace damaged or missing skin or provide a temporary wound covering.

Why do people go for skin grafting surgeries?

Wounds such as third-degree burns must be covered as quickly as possible to prevent infection or loss of fluid. Wounds that are left to heal on their own can contract, often resulting in serious scarring; if the wound is large enough, the scar can actually prevent movement of limbs. Non-healing wounds, such as diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, or pressure sores, can be treated with skin grafts to prevent infection and further progression of the wounded area.

Precautions
Skin grafting is generally not used for first- or second-degree burns, which generally heal with little or no scarring. Also, the tissue for grafting and the recipient site must be as sterile as possible to prevent later infection that could result in failure of the graft.

Description
Skin for grafting can be obtained from another area of the patient's body, called an autograft, if there is enough undamaged skin available, and if the patient is healthy enough to undergo the additional surgery required. Alternatively, skin can be obtained from another person (donor skin from cadavers is frozen, stored, and available for use), called an allograft, or from an animal (usually a pig), called a xenograft. Allografts and xenografts provide only temporary covering--they are rejected by the patient's immune system within seven to 10 days and must be replaced with an autograft.

Several artificial skin products are available for burns or non-healing wounds. Unlike allographs and xenographs, these products are not rejected by the patient's body and actually encourage the generation of new tissue.

Aftercare
Once a skin graft has been put in place, even after it has healed, it must be maintained carefully. Patients who have grafts on their legs should remain in bed for seven to 10 days, with their legs elevated. For several months, the patient should support the graft with a bandage. Grafts in other areas of the body should be similarly supported after healing to decrease the amount of contracture.
Grafted skin does not contain sweat or oil glands, and should be lubricated daily for two to three months with a bland oil (e.g., mineral oil) to prevent drying and cracking.

Risks
The risks of skin grafting include those inherent in any surgical procedure that involves anaesthesia. These include reactions to the medications, problems breathing, bleeding, and infection. In addition, the risks of an allograft procedure include transmission of infectious disease.

Normal results
A skin graft should provide significant improvement in the quality of the wound site, and may prevent the serious complications associated with burns or non-healing wounds.
Abnormal results
Failure of a graft can result from poor blood flow, swelling, or infection.

It's the end of this skin-grafting entry! Hope all of you learnt something new about skin grafting today =] And for those who are really interested, click here to read up on an article about scientists growing skin from hair follicles!

Shuyi ^^

i thought about my skin
at 12:08 PM

Want to know why different people have different skin colour?? Read this post!

Your skin color is a function of the size, number and the distribution and not the density of melanin cells.

In fact, the number of melanin cells is standard in every human being. However, melanin cells of darker tones of skin have thicker, longer and highly branched dendrites, unlike skin with lighter tones. The differences in varying skin pigmentation of the races depend on the quantity of melanin pigments produced and on the distribution and the deposition of the pigments throughout the skin’s top layer, the epidermis.

Melanin pigment is highly important in free radicals absorption generated within the cytoplasm. Thus, it shields us from harmful ionizing radiation, including the UV (Ultra-violet) light. Thus, melanin protects the skin against painful and dangerous sun burns. Since people with lighter tones of skin (eg: Caucasians) have less Melanin compared to others, they are more prone to sun burns and skin diseases. The essential enzyme in melanin synthesis tyrosinase.

Tyrosinase is multifunctional, glycosylated, copper-containing oxidase with a molecular weight of approximately 60 to 70 kDa. It is usually found in melanin cells. Tyrosinase is produced in melanosomal ribosome's which is on the rough ER (endoplasmic reticulum). After synthesis, tyrosinase is glycosylated within the Golgi Apparatus in cells, then delivered to melanosomes by vesicles.

Tyrosinase is the rate-limiting enzyme for melanin synthesis (production of melanin), and defection of this enzyme ultimately leads to the albinism in humans.

It is also likely that racial differences in human color may be due to different tyrosinase activity in the melanin cells from varying skin types. Melanin cells derived from darker tones of skin have up to tyrosinase activity which is ten times more intense than do melanin cells in lighter tones of skin.

Interesting fact!

Strict genetic control of migration patterns of melanin cells lead to interesting patterns when distribution in the skin is not uniform, as can be seen in zebras
and giraffes.

Hope you learnt something today!

Sinhui (:

i thought about my skin
at 9:51 AM

Hi! I am the skin and let me introduce myself to you today!

I am the largest organ and also the one and only organ in the human body which is constantly exposed to the external environment! I am a waterproof, flexible, tough protective covering for you. My surface is smooth with only with hair and pores for sweat.

Without the mighty me, life on earth is impossible! Imagine your bones, muscles and organs flying all over the place! =( However, with me, you are ensured that your body would be intact and everything would be held together! I also protect your organs, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels against trauma! Certainly, palms of the hands and soles of the feet require greater protection too!

Other than holding everything intact, I provide a barrier to the environment, protect you from ultraviolet light, regulate your body temperature, senses touch, provides insulation to keep you warm!

However I can become infected with bacteria, viruses and fungi as well. Chemicals or other substances can also harm me!

My body has three main layers, namely the epidermis (the outer thinner layer), dermis (the middle thicker layer), and fats (the innermost layer). Let me introduce the three layers of me to you right now!

The epidermis is the relatively thin, tough, outer layer. The cells here originate from cells in the deepest layer of the epidermis called the Malpighian layer. They slowly move up toward the surface of the epidermis. Once they reach the surface, I would have to say goodbye to them by shedding them =( as the younger ones are pushing up from below.

The outermost portion of the epidermis, the granular layer, is waterproof and prevents nasty bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances from entering the body! But if an evil person cuts my granular layer, you could be exposed to the nasty bacteria and viruses! =( To prevent infections, you must take good care of me!

Scattered throughout the Malpighian layer are cells called melanocytes, which produce the melanin. Melanin filters out harmful UV rays from sunlight, which can damage your DNA and cause you to have skin cancer (oh no!).

Langerhans' cells are part of my immune system and are present in the epidermis. They help me to detect foreign substances and defend you against infection but they could be bad guys at times and I will develop skin allergies. =(

Next, let me tell you more about the dermis!

The dermis, another layer of me, is thick and houses fibrous and elastic tissue that gives me my flexibility and strength. It is rich in nerve endings, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicles, and blood vessels.

The nerve endings (modified dendrites of sensory neurons) or sensory receptors sense pain, touch, pressure, and temperature (thermoreceptors). Some areas of me contain more nerve endings than others! For example, your fingertips and toes certainly have many nerves and are extremely sensitive to touch!

The sweat glands produce sweat in response to heat and stress. They are coiled tubes formed by a downward growth of the epidermis. It forms a tight knot in the dermis and is richly surrounded by blood capillaries. The sweat flows through the sweat duct and a sweat pore to the skin surface.

Sweat is composed of water, sodium chloride and small amounts of urea. Since sweat contains metabolic waste products, I am also considered an excretory organ!

Sweat is secreted continuously and the amount of sweat produced varies. They may even be produced in such little quantities that they evaporate immediately. When more sweat is produced, they appear as droplets on me. As sweat evaporates off the skin, it helps cool you down and regulates your temperature.

Specialised sweat glands in armpits and in genital regions (or the apocrine sweat glands) secrete a thick, oily sweat that produces a characteristic odor when the sweat is digested by the bacteria.

The sebaceous glands secrete sebum into hair follicles. Sebum is an oil pigment that keeps me moist and soft and acts as a barrier against foreign substances.

Hair contributes to your appearance but can regulate body temperature, provide protection and prevent injury, and enhance sensation as well! Although hairs are embedded in the dermis, they are produced by the epidermis. The Malpighian layer of the epidermis sinks into the dermis, forming a hollow tube, the hair follicle. The hair follicles produce the various types of hair found throughout the body. At the base of the follicle, there is a mass of tissue containing blood capillaries and nerves, the hair papilla. The hair papilla is covered with epidermal cells which constantly divide, pushing new cells upwards. They will soon die and harden, forming your hair!

The hair erector muscles are attached to the hair follicles. These muscles are capable of contraction, causing the hairs to stand on their ends and parts of me around the hair to be raised, producing the “goose pimples” of you!

The blood vessels of the dermis provide nutrients to me and help regulate your bodily temperature. The arterioles that carry blood to the capillaries here are controlled by vasomotor nerves. These useful vasomotor nerves bring about the reflex contraction and dilation of the arterioles, which makes me turn red and flushed when you are hot and after vigorous activities, or pale when you are scared or cold. Thus, they regulate bodily temperature.

When your temperature rises, my arterioles will dilate to allow more blood to flow through the capillaries in me. More heat is lost through me, by radiation, conduction and convection. The shunt vessels constrict and more blood enters the capillaries, increasing the amount of heat loss.

My sweat glands will start to be active and increase the production of sweat. As sweat evaporates, more latent heat of vapourisation is removed from you and this is really an efficient way of losing heat.

When your temperature begins to fall, the opposite occurs. Reflex constriction of the skin arterioles occurs and less blood flows through the blood capillaries, therefore less heat is lost by convection, radiation and conduction. The shunt vessels dilate and result in less blood flow to me. More blood is returned to capillaries in the deeper parts of me. Less heat is lost and heat is conserved.

Over different parts of the body, the number of nerve endings, sweat glands and sebaceous glands, hair follicles, and blood vessels varies. The top of your head has many hair follicles whereas the soles of your feet have none! (Imagine hairy legs and hands XD)

Next up is my sub-cutaneous fat layer! The fat layer is just below the dermis and it helps insulate you from heat and cold by providing protection. The fat is housed in living adipose cells, which are held together by fibrous tissue. The fat layer varies well! There is only very little fat cells on the eyelids, while there are several inches on your abdomen and buttocks!

Well, I hope that after you heard my introduction, I got a better idea of who I am and how important I am to you now!

Bye for now!

Love,

Skin(:

(Sinhui)

i thought about my skin
at 8:39 AM