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We get goosebumps if someone strokes our skin gently. The
reason for this is
that a tiny hair-erector muscle — the arrector pili, located deep
in each hair
follicle — responds to nerve signals from the brain. Our hairs
stand on end,
and the layer of air they trap protects us against the cold.
The skin, our body’s outer shell, is a fascinating organ that
embodies
memories from its evolutionary development. Yet given that it’s
our largest
organ, with a surface area of two square metres, we know
surprisingly little
about it — either about its structure, or about how best to
take care of it.
We know that oily fish are good for the brain, that olive oil is
good for the
heart, and that the calcium in yoghurt strengthens the skeleton.
But what about our skin?
This book takes a fresh look at the skin from a holistic
perspective.
What can the latest research tell us about our skin? What’s
your own
personal skin type, and what is its current status? What can
you do to
make your skin healthier? And what role do the skin’s
micro-organisms
play? How can nutrition and lifestyle affect skin health?
Science is advancing all the time, and right now major
discoveries are
being made about the skin’s own microbiome: its bacterial flora,
comprising
hundreds of millions of micro-organisms that work together with
skin cells
and which, we now know, play a decisive role in our health.
At the same time, we expose our skin to too many
antibacterial substances
in our daily skincare products. Currently, scientific congresses
worldwide are
discussing how cosmetics and skincare affect our skin’s
microbiome, which
is comparable to the gut microbiome, long known to be
vulnerable to the
effects of preservatives and processed food. |
