The skin
The skin - a fascinating organ
The skin is the largest organ of the human being and has to fulfil various functions:
- It forms a protective shield against harmful influences (a functioning immune system attacks viruses, bacteria and fungi) and its elasticity has the effect of a shock absorber against mechanical loads.
- As a sense organ it reacts sensitively to stimuli and gives information in fractions of a second to the brain.
- The skin takes plays a decisive role in regulating the water balance.
Depending on body size, it covers an area of 1.5 2 square meters and weighs, on average, 10-12 kg approximately 1/6 of our total body weight. At the same time our protective shell is paper thin, at the most a few millimetres in cross section and comprised of three distinctive layers: the Cuticle/ Epidermis, the True Skin / Dermis and the Subcutis also called Basal Membrane.
When we feel uncomfortable in our own skin, it tends to show. It develops blotches, rashes and irritations, generally looks pale and lacks certain radiance. Many reasons may lurk behind such symptoms, from internal illness to psychological factors, allergies and even infections. Should your suspicions fall on any of the above then medical advice should be sought. However, the brief of this publication is not to deal with skin diseases that necessitate medical attention but to highlight everyday problems that come to us all and that massage can help to alleviate. In particular, aging which spares nobody and cellulite.