BSC System of Skin Care & Renewal

Step 1 – Learn About Your Skin

Skin – we all have it and we all want it to look and feel better!

But what is skin? Human skin is our body’s largest organ just like your liver or heart, but it’s the one the whole world sees.

The skin's functions are:

• Regulate body temperature
• Let’s us feel heat, cold & pain (touch)
• Prevent  excessive water loss
• Protect us from infections (healing)
• Protects us from the sun with a specialized pigment (melanin)
• Involved in the production of Vitamin D

The skin is much deeper than what you see on the surface though.

Your skin has layers:

Epidermis –the outer most layer of our skin. Contains sub-layers of different skin cell types.

Stratum corneum - Very top layer of the epidermis.

• Is a protective layer of dead skin cells - fully mature kerantinocytes - that contain  fibrous proteins known as keratins
• Is thinner than tissue paper
• Helps to hold in skin moisture and oil
• Continuously sheds (exfoliates) but this shedding slows with age

Keratinocytes layer – (Squamous cells)

• Lies just beneath the stratum corneum
• Contains living kerantinocytes

Basal Cell Layer – lowest level of the epidermis.

• Continually divides to produce new karatinocyte skin cells

Melanocytes – not really a layer but part of the epidermis

• Produce melanin  (skin pigment)
• The amount of melanin your skin has determines the color of your skin.
• The amount of melanin you have is genetic.

Dermis –your middle layer of skin and is made up of almost 70% collagen

The dermis also consists of:

• fibroblasts
• sebaceous gland
• blood vessels
• hair follicles
• sweat glands
• nerve endings
• immune system cells

Fibroblasts – are responsible for secreting collagen, elastin and ground substance – all of which give support and elasticity to the skin.

Elastin Fibers– wrap around collagen to give support to your skin.

Sebaceous Glands – produce sebum, which is an oily, waxy material that helps keep skin supple.

Subcutaneous Fat Layer – Lies under the dermis layer. Gives skin it’s plumpness.

Cross Section of Skin

Now let’s break this down a bit further and relate it to skin aging.

The Stratum Corneum layer of dead skin cells is sloughed off constantly with “new” dead skin cells taking its place. Unfortunately, this process slows way down as we age. This is the reason our skin begins to look rough and dull. Think of light reflecting off a smooth surface. The light reflects cleanly and shows the surface’s evenness. Now think of light reflecting from a rough surface. The light reflects at different angles showing the roughness. This is why our skin looses that “fresh” look!

 

Basal Cells are at the bottom of the Epidermis. Basal cells generate new skin cells that move to the top die and become the stratum corneum. Poor nutrition, sun exposure, bad general health habits, free radicals and normal aging all slow the process of new skin growth making the skin look older.

As we naturally age, the entire epidermis loses its’ translucency and does not retain moisture as well. This is why older or mistreated skin looks dry and not as plump. Also, the overall thickness of the epidermis decreases making skin look thin and more fragile.

Below the Epidermis, the Dermis is about 90% of your skin’s thickness. The Dermis contains the all important collagen and elastin fibers which are responsible for the form and strength of our skin. The plump, taut skin of youth comes from plenty of healthy collagen and elastin. As you probably have figured out by now, natural aging, sun exposure, poor health habits along with free radicals also decrease collagen and elastin production in the skin.

The Sebaceous Glands produce Sebum, an oily substance that lubricates and protects our skin. An important function until there is too much sebum and dead skin cells, and then breakouts occur. As related to aging, the Sebaceous Glands lessen in size and number (especially in woman) and generally produce less oil that can add to skin dryness.

Under the Dermis, lies the Subcutaneous Fat Layer. This fatty tissue insulates and cushions your organs. It also helps to keep your skin smooth and plump. Thankfully, this layer is not too affected by aging.

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The Two Types of Skin Aging  -  Intrinsic & Extrinsic

Intrinsic or chronological aging is the natural passage of time and inevitably, will happen to your skin. Heredity plays a big part in intrinsic aging so take a look at your parents for some clues as to what will come for you.

Types of Intrinsic Skin Aging

• Dry Skin – Fewer Sebaceous glands & sweat ducts
• Larger Pores – Loss of underlying support system
• Wrinkles – Loss of Collagen & Elastin along with years of facial movements
• Redness – due to broken capillaries just under the skin, mostly on the nose and cheeks
• Decreased Healing Capability – turnover rate of skin cells greatly slows resulting in a dull complexion and a declining ability to heal wounds

Extrinsic or environmental aging is your skins exposure to the environment. Repeated exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays (photo damage) is responsible for most of the extrinsic skin damage you will have in your life.

Types of Extrinsic Skin Aging

• Brown spots / Uneven skin tone – due to exposure to sun
• Deeper wrinkles & furrows – due to more significant loss of collagen from sun exposure
• Redness – due to broken capillaries just under the skin, mostly on the nose and cheeks – sun exposure increases this greatly.
• Skin Cancer - Basel Cell Carcinoma, Melonoma
• Sagging Skin – due to loss of elastin fibers from sun exposure

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Do you think I have mentioned the sun and its damaging effects on our wonderful skin enough?

Well this one fact can’t be stressed enough.

THE SUN’S UVA & UVB RAYS

TRIGGER YOUR SKIN TO AGE PREMATURELY!

If you want to really understand the difference between Intrinsic and Extrinsic aging – just compare your face, back of hands, upper chest to your backside or any place on your body that does not see much sun. This should give you an idea of how much damage your skin receives from the sun.

 

That’s it for Step 1.

See I told you it was a short lesson on skin.  But hopefully it has given you a basic understanding that will make finding your right skin care system much easier.

Move on to STEP 2 -
Learn about your skin type

Skin Care Product Deals & Discounts

 

 

 

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