Know more about Skin

Basics about Skin 

Many a times you must have come across a saying which goes "First impression is the last impression". This saying means the way you appear, and the way you carry yourself in different situations. However, a general conception about first impression stresses on how you look. So, which organ plays an important in displaying your looks? Of course, skin is probably the most important part of your body that helps in enhancing the entire looks. So, let's learn some basics things about this important and vital part of our body.


Skin is considered as the basic and sensory organ which helps in sensing the touch and feel of any object. However besides these, skin also performs a lot of work in our daily life. Some of the important activities that skin performs are:

• Holding the body structure together.
  
• Preventing leakage of water and body fluids from the body.
• Preventing the entry of germs and infection inside the body.
  
• Sensing the temperature of objects.
  
• Providing the feel of pain.
  

Main components of Skin 


Skin is essentially made up of 3 layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer. They work together and perform the important functions like protecting the body. Let us learn more about these three components of skin.


Epidermis 


Epidermis is the layer of the skin that you can see. Epidermis cells are divided into two major parts. Deep down the epidermis lives the growing cells and the outside cells are termed as dead cells. The dead cells are easily rubbed off and the growing cells take their place. These cells contain keratin which is waterproof and hard in nature. Other cells in the epidermis produce a pigment known as melanin. Melanin is responsible for the color of your skin. It also protects the skin from harmful radiation from sunlight. Darker the skin more is the protection. Hence, people with fair skin are more prone to sun burn. 


Dermis 


The dermis is a thicker and more elastic layer of the skin. The dermis is probably the most important layer of skin which comprises of sebaceous glands, hair follicles, blood vessels and nerves. 


Sebaceous gland produces sebum oil which keeps the skin soft and waterproof. Sweat glands produce sweats and send it to the surface of the skin through small pores. Sweating is generally occurred when you are in hot surroundings. This phenomenon helps in keeping the body temperature cool. Most of the body parts are covered with hairs which are developed in hair follicle region of the dermis. Blood vessels carry oxygen and nutrients to the cells as well as carry away the waste. 


Subcutaneous layer 


The subcutaneous layer is mainly made up of fat which acts as protector as well helps in keeping the body warm.


Some interesting facts 


Believe it or not, skin is the largest organ of our body. Around 15 per cent of the total weight or 6 pounds is due to the skin. Skin is different for different people. Remember, no one in this world has same fingerprints!!!!!

Know more about Nails

Basics about Nails 

Nails are found only in two parts of your body, fingers and toes. They are developed in folds of the skin near the end of fingers and toes. The growth of the nail starts underneath the skin and continues over the nail bed towards the end of toes and fingers. Nail separates from the skin underneath it and changes from pink to white. 


Nails are formed by the process known as keratinization. Keratin is a type of protein present in the top layer of skin, nails and hairs. Due to the presence of keratin, cells in the root of the nail flatten and become harder. The new cells formed push the hard cells out and finally emerges as the nail. Nails have a pink appearance due to the presence of tiny blood vessels underneath which feed the nail bed. Nails are dead and do not require any food. 


Importance of nails 


Though nails are tiny parts of our body, they help in various ways. The foremost function of the nails is to protect the ends of fingers and toes. Which part of the body helps you in a situation of itching? Yes, nails also helps in scratching the body parts where you feel itching. Nails are useful when you want to pick up small things. Ever imagined how you would pick up needles or pins, if they fall on the ground. Nails can only perform this part of picking up the small things like pins, nuts, needles and so on. In animals like dog, cat, and wild animals nails provide the ease of catching and tearing the foods for them. Hence, claws of wild animals are nicely developed with specialties like narrow, strong and spiny structures.


Taking care of Nails 


We are often careless about keeping the nails healthy. However, everyone must take care of this tiny but important part of our body. Some of the tips to keep the nails healthy and beautiful are:

• Wash the areas around and near your nails, everyday.
• Cut your nails on a regular basis.
• Fingernails can be filed with a nail file or can be cut with nail clippers.
  
• It is always better to cut the nails after taking the bath. This is because the nails gets softer and easier to cut after the bath.
  
• Always keep the nail straight and short.
  
• If your nails are weak, use a nail cream to provide the strength.
  
• Always wear shoes or thongs to prevent fungal infections.
  

Interesting facts about nails 


Nails of fingers grow about 2 times faster than the nails of toe. Nails grow faster in summer than winter. If the root of nail is not badly injured, it will grow again. Nails are the organs which does not give pain at the time of cutting. Thumbnail is the slowest growing nail on the hand while middle finger nail is the fastest. Nails and hair get longer after the death of the person due to the changes in the tissues around them. 


If your nails are pink in color, it means that you have enough iron in the body and the blood circulation is efficient throughout the body.

Know more about Muscles

Introduction 

You can see lot of youngsters sweating out in four-walled gymnasium and health clubs. It is a fashion trend now-a-days to have a muscular structure to attract people and to make a distinct place in the group. It seems everyone today is running after having a muscular body. Before building your muscles, let us try to learn something about this special part of our body. 


Muscles are essentially made of fibers which help in moving the various parts of our body. Each fiber is made up of long thin cells which are packed in bundles. Myosin and actin are the two kinds of protein present in fibers. Perimysium is a thin skin that covers each bundle. More bundles of fibers indicate that the muscles are big. Muscles also consists nerves which carry messages to and from the brain. Blood vessels in muscles help in providing energy to the muscles and carry away the waste. 


Types of muscles 


Primary function of muscles is to provide movement to the different parts of the body. Many of the muscles are termed as skeletal muscles as they are attached to the bones. Muscles can be categorized in two ways depending upon the shape and functioning. Depending on the shape of the muscles, they can be categorized into four types which are as follows:

• Spindle shaped muscles- this type of muscles are thick in the middle and thinner at the ends. Muscles of your biceps and triceps of upper arms are the best example for this kind of muscles. Bend your arm up to see the shape of such muscles.
  
• Flat muscles- they are flat in shape such as muscles in your diaphragm and forehead.
• Triangular muscles- this muscle is like the deltoid muscle which is present at the top of your arm. This muscle helps in pulling your arm up.
  
• Circular muscles- these muscles are found in many parts of our body, also called as ring-shaped muscles. Muscles around the mouth, pupils of the eyes, inside the bladder and the anus when you have finished going to the toilet.
  

Muscles can also be categorized in another ways as voluntary muscles and involuntary muscles. Voluntary muscles are the one that can work when the message is sent to the brain. In simple ways, these muscles work in control condition. Muscles of your arms, legs are the best example of voluntary muscles. Involuntary muscles do not need any messages from the brain to work. They know their job perfectly and accomplish it without any order from the brain. Muscles in your heart, digestive system and the tiny muscles at the bottom of the hairs are the best examples of involuntary muscles. 

Keeping the muscles healthy 


There are only two ways of keeping the muscles healthy, by eating right food and by exercising. Muscles get energy to work efficiently from glucose. Therefore, foods that are rich in carbohydrates or glucose shall be taken to keep the muscles healthy. Foods such as meat, egg, fish and broccoli are rich in carbohydrates.


Regular exercise is the best way to keep the muscles active. Always perform some stretching exercise to flexibility to the muscles. While exercising during summer, drink lot of water to prevent stiffness after the work out. Sweating and not drinking lot of water leads to problem called muscle spasm. Too much of stretching can also develop strain in the muscles.


Eating foods such as fruits, vegetables, pasta, bread and potatoes can give enough fuel to your muscles to work efficiently. To have strong and healthy muscles, include foods like milk products, fish and meat in your diet.

Know more about Moles

Overview 

A mole is a common benign growth of the color cells of the skin called melanocytes. Melanocytic nevus is a medical name for mole. Moles are commonly found in almost everyone's body. Moles that appear right from the birth are termed as birth marks. However, not all birthmarks are moles. 


Moles normally appear in the first year of life and the number increase during the second and third decade. The number of moles can also increase due to the increase in sun exposure. Some moles may disappear in the seventh to ninth decade of life. Number of moles on your body is the strongly indicates the risk of developing a malignant melanoma. Researchers believe that number of innocent moles on the skin and the chances of developing an abnormal or changing mole have direct relationship. 


Basic facts about Moles 


Moles present in the arm area predict the number of moles elsewhere on the body. Usually, body parts that are exposed to the harmful sun rays are more affected. These parts of the body would have more number of moles. Highly dense mole area would have moles that are less than 5 mm in diameter. Larger moles are found on intermittently sun exposed areas such as back and chest. Moles are likely to grow in size before 20 years of age. As you grow old, normal moles are unlikely to grow. 


Puberty is the time when the developments of moles are at its peak. Moles may have following feature and characteristics:

• Moles may vary in color such as brownish, brownish-black, blue-black or skin colored.
  
• Moles can develop individually or in a group.
  
• Some moles might seem smooth or "warty".
• Initially, they are flat but may grow in size. Some moles may also grow hairs over it.
  
• Sometimes, moles slowly fade and go away.
  
• As you grow old, some moles may change and disappear. 
  

Keep a close eye on Moles 


Moles can be dangerous as they can develop into malignant melanoma. Often, they do not hurt or pain you, but you must keep a record of your moles to prevent future health problems. Some of the essential tips to keep a close look at your moles are as follows:

• Keep a record of the area of your moles.
  
• Keep a record of their size and shape.
  
• Keep a count on the number of moles. This will help you to recognize the additional moles.
  
• Also note the shape and color of larger moles.
  
• If the mole size changes in size and color or begin to itch or bleed, immediately contact your doctor.
  
• Molemax is a machine which will take pictures of your body and store them. Few days later when you come back and take the pictures from the machine, doctor will evaluate the numbers and appearance of the moles.
  

Protecting yourself from Moles 


Follow the listed tips to avoid moles on your body:

• Always wear the clothes that can provide protection to the entire body.
  
• Apply sunscreen before leaving the home in sunny days.
  
• Wear a hat which gives shade to your face.
  
• Use zinc cream on the moles that are not covered by the clothes.
  

Know more about Freckles

Overview 

Freckles are commonly seen on people with fair skin or red hair. They are also called as sun kisses. Freckles are flat, circular spots which range in the size of the head of nail. Freckles usually occur due to the repeated exposure to sunlight, especially in persons with fair complexion. Freckles are nothing but the little spots of melanin in your skin which are dark in color compared to the skin around them. The color of freckles may vary from red to yellow, light brown or black. 


Types of freckles 


There are two types of freckles, ephelides (singular- ephelis) and lentigines (singular- lentigo). Ephelides are the flat spots on the skin which are either red or light-brown in color. They usually appear during the sunny months and fade in winter. In some cases, ephelides may occur as hereditary problem. Regular use of sunscreen during summer can help in suppressing the ephelis. Lentigines are usually darker in appearance as compared to ephelis type. They are usually found in children and may have small tan, brown or black spot.


How do freckles develop? 


The sun and sun-tanning light emits ultraviolet (UV) rays. If the skin is exposed to heavy sunlight, the outer layer of skin thickens. Also, the melanocytes (pigment producing cell in skin) start producing melanin pigment at an increased rate. This process gives protection to the skin against future sun exposure. People with dark complexion are less sensitive as compared to fair-skinned people. However, freckles can be developed even in the dark-skinned people. Person with blonde hair are more susceptible to sunburned because of being fair-skinned. The uneven distribution of the melanin pigment in the skin is the major cause of freckles. Therefore, freckles are considered as nothing but the heavy deposition of melanin at one part of the skin.


How to prevent freckles? 


Although, freckles are common in fair-skinned people, it can be easily prevented. Protecting your skin from the sun and preventing it from tanning is the best way of avoiding freckles. Some basic and important tips to avoid freckles are as follows:

• People shall take care while moving out during the summer season. One must try to avoid the direct intact with the harmful ultraviolet rays coming out from the sun. People with multiple freckles often have pale skin which burns easily.
  
• Always apply sunscreen before going out in sunny days. Make it a habit of applying the sunscreen while leaving for the office, school or shopping.
  
• Wear a hat and clothes to cover your skin completely during the summer season. 
  

In older days and even today, some recipes that include lemon juice are believed to protect our skin from the freckles. Following things can be done to clear the freckles from your skin:

• Take a juice of half a lemon.
  
• Wipe the freckles with the juice, by using cotton wool ball.
  
• Apply this juice two times a day.
  
• Stay out of sun.
  

If you want a freckle-free skin, the most important part is to protect your skin from harmful sun rays.