Scientific Skin Care News 6

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8.    Stratum Spinosum-A delicate structure for protection!

Let us enjoy the study of skin now.  Epidermis is made up of  four major layers of keratinocytes or corniocytes.

In the Epidermis, the stratum spinosum is a multi-layered structure of cuboidal cells that is located beneath  the stratum granulosum.  The Adjacent cells of stratum spinosum are joined by desmosomes, giving them a spiny appearance when the cells shrink and the desmosomes hold them firm.

Their nuclei are often darkened, which is an early sign of cell death. The cells slowly die as the  nutrients and oxygen in interstitial fluid have become exhausted before the fluid is able to reach them by diffusion.

Cells of the stratum spinosum actively synthesize intermediate filaments called cytokeratins, which are composed of keratin. These intermediate filaments are anchored to the desmosomes, joining adjacent cells to provide structural support, helping the skin resist abrasion. 

The major functions of the Stratum Spinosum are:

1.      It protects against the foreign materials at the same time the anchoring cells keep them holding each other.

2.      This layer is also where Langerhans cells, components of your immune system that trap and transport foreign bodies or materials, are produced and often reside.

3.      Cells in this layer attack and remove infection, keeping your skin free from bacteria that may enter through a cut.

4.      The stratum spinosum also protects you from xerosis, (Dry Skin) When you stay properly hydrated, your stratum spinosum will protect you to the point that you should not need lotions to moisturize your skin.

Stratum spinosum is meant to protect your skin from common problems like dryness and infection, the malignant, or cancerous, cells can also grow here when exposed to harsh UV radiations, when they are exposed to sunlight, which causes them to mutate.

The stratum spinosum anchors the epidermis together, and it helps keep moisture inside your skin. While it protects you against common dryness and infection, it can also spawn cancerous cells if you do not properly protect yourself from the sun. That's why it's important to try and keep this layer as healthy as possible in order to keep your skin moist and safe.

We need to protect our skin understanding the mechanism of stratum Spinosum.

Credit : Rahul Phate’s

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7.    Epidermis: A layered Structure!

Let us enjoy the study of skin now.  Epidermis is made up of  four major layers of keratinocytes or corniocytes.

1.      Stratum Basale: Stratum Germinativum

2.      Stratum Spinosum

3.      Stratum Granulosum

4.      Stratum Corneum.

Let us understand the epidermis layer by layer.

1.      Stratum Basale: This is the lowermost layer of epidermis which lies directly on top of dermis. The cells in this layer are shaped like columns. The cells in this layer keep dividing and the newly formed cells push the older cells in the outer direction. As the cells move to the outer layers, they slowly become flatter and eventually die. The constant renewal of the epidermis is caused by the Stratum Basale.

Stratum Basale is layer of just 1 row of undifferentiated columnar stem cells that frequently divide.

Half of the newly formed cells are pushed in the upper layer, where they turn towards maturity. The remaining half cells stay in the basale layer and divide over and over again to replenish the epidermis.

All keratinocytes are formed by mitosis (cell division) in the lower region of the malpighian layer. (Malpighian layer is considered to be the combination of the stratum Basale and stratum spinosum). Most of the dividing cells are found in the basal layer, although about one-third of the divisions occur above this level.

 Proliferating cells undergo a cycle: mitosis is followed by an interphase, and then occurs the DNA synthesis, and then another short resting phase occurs before mitosis begins again.

 The complete mitotic cycle takes about 12 to 19 days. The time for the passage of cells through the epidermis, from formation to desquamation, is considered to be one to three months.

In normal skin the production and loss of cells must be finely balanced; otherwise the thickness of the epidermis would fluctuate.

When the epidermis becomes abnormally thick, as in the plaques of psoriasis, this balance is altered. Either the production of cells in the malpighian layer must be abnormally high or their time of passage must be decreased.

When skin is wounded, the healing response is activated and there is a burst of epidermal mitotic activity about 40 hours later.

 Let us think and workout on the other layers of epidermis.

Credit : Rahul Phate’s

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5.    Easy Knowledge of Skin for you!
 

Human skin is the outermost covering of the body. It is the largest organ of the intagumentary system.  The total area is about 20 square feet. It is a multi-layered organ. It guards the internal organs including muscles,  bones, visceral organs etc. The skin protects us from microbes and the elements help regulating the body temperature and permits the sensations of touch, heat and cold.

Although the human skin appears almost hairless, it is mostly covered by fine hair, but it is not protected by fur. most of the skin is between 2–3 mm (0.10 inch) thick. The average square inch of skin contains on an average about 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels, 60,000 melanocytes, and more than 1,000 nerve endings.

Skin has three layers:

The epidermis, which is the outermost layer of skin. It provides a waterproof barrier and creates our skin tone.

The dermis, which lies beneath the epidermis, contains tough connective tissue, hair follicles, and sweat glands.

The deeper subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis) is made of fat and connective tissue.

Skin has mesodermal cells. It has its own pigmentation which comes from melanin which is secreted by the melanocytes.

Melanin absorbs the potentially dangerous UV rays from the sun light.

Skin also contains DNA repair enzymes that helps reverse the UV damage.

When we talk about the human skin, it varies a nit in men and women. Besides having facial hair, there are few differences in woman’s and man’s skin. Stimulation by Androgens causes an increase in skin thickness, and therefore the man’s skin is about 25% thicker then women.

Along with the higher thickness, the man’s skins texture is tougher. Also there is difference in sebum content. After puberty, the sebum production is greater in men’s then in women. Because of this, the man’s skin is oilier and the problem of acne is more prominent in men and it takes longer time to get treated.

Also the male and female skin differs in the dermis. Man’s skin has more of collagen density then a women. You must know that the ageing of the skin at dermal level is directly associated with the collagen content of the dermis, therefore women age faster than men. You can expect about 10 years difference in man’s and women's skin of same age.

That is why you can understand that men use less of skin care for protection, they are more in sun with bare skin but still the damage can be more prominently seen in women.

Credit : Rahul Phate’s

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4.    AHA Smooth-N-Glow Skin Lightening Face Wash
AHA is a most commonly referred term in the field of beauty. It actually refers to the Alpha Hydroxy Acids. Generally AHA’s are used to  break the bonds between the dry, damaged skin cell which are adhering to the skin.

AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash also contains the AHA’s which effectivelty removes these damaged-dry cells from the skin, thus making it healthy, fresh and youthful which shines with natural glow.

AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash contains Sodium laurel ether sulphate as the basic cleanser. It is a gentle cleansing agent and the surfactant effect is made more softer with the addition of the coconut oil derived foam softeners makes the face wash more gentle and harm free.

AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash gently cleanses the skin and helps maintaining skin's moisture level. It  safely and effectively removes impurities and environmental pollutants.

Soft, gentle and rich-foaming lather rinses the skin clean, leaving no irritating residue thereby avoiding the damage to the internal delicate skin.

AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and fresh, never dry. More over the skin protective silicone assed to the formulation makes it very effective.

During the face wash activity, the mild cleansers remove dirt, debris and sebum, AHA’s removes the dry dehydrated damaged cells from the skin. AHA’s also balance the skin pH and Skin protecting silicone's replace the Sebum. This inhibits dryness and pulling of the skin.

More over the rebound formation of excess sebum is reduced by the protective silicone's and as a result, the skin becomes balanced in terms of moisture, acidity and oil content.

AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash is designed for all skin types, although those with oily or problem-prone skin will truly benefit from this clarifying cleanser. It leaves your skin at the right pH for effective use of Alpha Hydroxy Acids.

Moreover, I would like to comment on one more quality of the AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash, it contains Natural moisturizing factors. Whenever you wash the face with face wash, the quantity of Natural moisturizing factors reduces from the skin and this actually leads to ageing.

The Natural moisturizing factors added to the AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash replenish them and the drying and ageing of the skin can be drastically reduced.

Let me talk of the most promising aspect of the face wash. The name itself is AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash, it indicated the skin lightening effect achieved through the use of the AHA’s.

AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash proves very effective in improving the complexion, that is skin lightening, brightening and Whitening.

Try out and I am very confident, you will be very happy after using  AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash.

Apply ½ tsp AHA Smooth-N-Glow skin lightening face wash on the moist face with gentle massage. Rub gently for one to two minutes. Rinse off with water. Wipe off the face with Turkish Napkin and immediately apply small amount of Aloeweed gel or Gaurangi Sun screen on the skin.

Take care that your eyes are closed while washing the face, because AHA’s may mildly irritate your eyes. Although it is not harmful, better take care and keep your eyes closed till you wash away the face wash.

“Rahul Phate’s Innovations,  Skin-N-Hair Clinic “Molecular Depths of Aesthetics”

(07 June 2014.)

Credit : Rahul Phate’s

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3.    Skin pH

pH is the measure of Acidity. pH of skin refers to the acidity of the external layers of the skin. Your skin needs certain amount of oil to stay water proof and resist infections.

The sebum produced in the sebaceous glands is released on the skin surface by tiny ducts that lie next to the hair follicles.

When the amount of sebum is too little, it can lead to dry skin and premature development of the wrinkles.

Too much of sebum can lead to oily skin and acne.

The sebaceous glands are activated by the hormones. Mainly the Androgens. These androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands. Due to the influence, the glands enlarge in size and they start secreting more of sebum.

Our skin is naturally designed to fight infection and environmental stresses and its effectiveness is affected by its pH level. The pH level of the skin refers to how acidic or alkaline it is. On a scale of 1-14, with 1 being the most acidic to 14 being the most alkaline, 7 is considered a neutral reading for your skin’s pH. Our skin has a thin, protective layer on its surface, referred to as the acid mantle. This acid mantle is made up of sebum (free fatty acids) excreted from the skin’s sebaceous glands, which mixes with lactic and amino acids from sweat to create the skin's pH, which ideally should be slightly acidic at about 5.5.

Using astringents, toners and  soap removes the acid mantle and can leave the skin vulnerable to fungal or bacterial infections.  Broadly speaking, be worry of any soap that isn’t labelled pH balanced” because you don’t know what’s in it. Body soaps shouldn’t be used on your face.

Maintaining the Ideal pH: Create beautiful skin that will last a lifetime.

Many factors can interfere with the delicate balance of the skin’s acid mantle, both externally and internally.
 As we age, our skin becomes more acidic in response to our lifestyle and our environment. Everything that comes in contact with our skin (products, smoking, air, water, sun, pollution) can contribute to the breaking down of the acid mantle, disrupting the skin’s ability to protect itself. 

Maintaining the Acid Mantle – Optimal pH Skin Care :
The acid mantle is an effective form of protection, but if your pH level is too alkaline or too acidic, the mantle is disturbed and your skin may suffer through dermatitis, eczema,  and psoriasis.

Most  soaps, tend to be too alkaline for the skin, as they strip away natural oils causing dryness and irritation.

Skin that is too alkaline can be more susceptible to acne because a certain level of acidity is needed to inhibit bacterial growth on the skin.

You may have noticed that many cleansers and shampoos are now avoiding the use of sodium laurel sulfate, which has an approximate alkaline pH level of 10 and can be very drying and irritating to the skin. Choosing mild cleansers and toners that are slightly acidic (close to 5) will benefit all skin types in properly maintaining the acid mantle. 

Now instead of sodium laurel sulphate, sodium laurel ether sulphate is used. This is a safer surfactant. Similarly you need to use Acidic cleansers like AHA Smooth-N-Glow face wash.

Credit : Rahul Phate’s

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2.    What Soap Does to Your Skin
Cleansers are made to remove dirt, sweat, adhared oil (Sebum), dirt and debris from the skin. The cleansing effect is achieved through the action of surfactants.

Surfactants dissolve surrounding dirt particles and oils in water and remove them from the skin. Harsh surfactants also exfoliate the skin leaving it dry.

Soap
§  The most commonly used cleanser
§  Made from a combination of fats (of animal or vegetable origin), oils and salt
§  Can plug hair follicles (pores)
§  Can cause dryness and irritation due to anionic surfactants
§  Disturbs the skin’s natural pH
§  May leave a residue on skin

§  The soap surfactants also have following harmful effects on the external layers of epidermis.

1.      After wash dryness.

2.      After wash tightness.

3.      Damage to the barrier function of the skin.

4.      Irritation and itching

5.      Redness.

The epidermis is made up of the corneocytes. The external layer of epidermis is made up of threads of keratin in an organized matrix. The soap surfactants bind with these proteins allowing them to become over hydrated and the cells swell. Due to this swelling, the surfactants penetrate into the deeper layers of skin, where they can interact with the nerve endings and immune system.

This possibly causes itching and irritation.

After some time, the water from the swollen cells evaporates and it leaves the corneocytes drier than before. This also causes reduction in the levels of the Natural moisturizing factors from the skin, basically stratum corneum.

The soap surfactants not only interact with the proteins, but also with the stratum corneum lipids.  The surfactants enter in between the lipid bilayer and increase the permeability and destructs the cell membrane layer up to certain extent. Soap even causes damage to the lipid structures causing reduction of the lipid content of the skin making it drier.

Also the soap interferes with the pH of the stratum corneum. Soap based cleansers are more alkaline (pH up to 10) and attack the skin directly. The skin pH is almost 5.6 and there is a large variation in the pH.

Commonly advertised soaps describe themselves well, some say they leave you squeaky clean even when they have added moisturizers. But Soap is a relatively harsh and drying surfactant. Soap-based wash products often dry and irritate the skin, leading to erythema and itchiness, which together often exacerbate the inflammation and dryness of Atopic Dermatitis.

Soap surfactants  influences the skin surface. The composition of the epidermal bacterial flora and activity of enzymes in upper epidermis along with acids makes it healthy. Soap disturbs the pH and affects the bacterial flora of the skin.

Made from fatty acid salts, soaps clean by reducing the surface tension of your skin with anionic agents such as carboxylate, sulfonate and sulfate ions which are potential irritants. The fatty acids in soap can have harmful effects too, by plugging follicles (pores) and causing acne.

 Credit : Rahul Phate’s