Your Skin - Your Protector

Skin covers your body for a reason, and even if attracting a potential partner is one of the reasons, it isn't one of the most important. There is much more to skin than its outward appearance. It is crucial that you understand the importance of the skin you live in and why you simply cannot live without it. Take care of your skin like your life depended on it – because it does.

Your skin is an organ; in fact it is the largest organ of your body. An organ, however, is a body structure that contains two or more different types of tissue that all work together. So although your skin looks like all of one piece on the outside, it's actually made up of three separate layers and each layer has it's own function.
It is important to understand that your skin spends it's lifetime protecting you and is responsible for many roles. To be more specific your skin....

* Keeps harmful bacteria, toxic elements and viruses from entering the body
* Regulates your body temperature by releasing water and other toxins in the form of perspiration when you're hot, and contracting tiny muscles (goose bumps) around your hair follicles when you get cold.
* Acts as a sensory receptor, allowing you to feel pain (a warning that something harmful is touching the skin so that you react and pull away. It also allows you to feel pleasure (no pulling away there) and temperature changes so you protect your skin from the damage of excessive cold or heat.
* Serves as a waterproof barrier keeping necessary moisture inside your body where it belongs without allowing your insides to be flooded every time you take a shower.

Your skin is your first line of defense against the outside world, and by all accounts it takes a beating. Your skin gets overheated, dried out, slathered with lotions and creams, scraped up, wrinkled and wind burned. The effects of the abuse you heap on your skin becomes more evident as you age.

As with any other organ in your body your skin is subject to aging. When you apply extra stress to your skin by spending too much time in the sun, smoking, yo-yo dieting or eating poorly the natural effects of aging are going to be magnified.

It is very important to make a conscious effort to respect and care for the skin you are surrounded in. Actively maintain a healthy cleansing regimen, keep your skin sufficiently hydrated and keep your appearance up by toning your facial muscles daily for a face lifting effect.

Barbara VanKline of http://www.burnfacialfat.com is an author/advocate anti-aging and facial fitness. Visit my website for tips and information on rejuvenating your face without dangerous surgical procedures and outrageous expense. It could be time to take inventory, change your diet and start a regular fitness program to improve the way you look and feel.