The Care and Hygiene of the Skin
By Mary W. Paulson, M.D.
MUCH more importance should be attached to the skin than generally is. It covers the outside of the body as a protection to the tissues inside. In other words, it is the binding for our bodies, and it is more important that our bodies be well bound than it is that a book which we have in constant use be well bound. The average individual has about seventeen square feet of skin. It is made up of several layers of epithelium, and is supplied with abundance of nerves and blood-vessels. The outside layer is horny, and is for the purpose principally of protection. Growing out from this horny layer we have finger nails and toe nails. In the layers of the skin are sweat-glands, or pores, as they are commonly called. There are about twenty-five hundred of these to every square inch of skin, in some parts of the body, or about two and one half million to the whole area of skin. Each little gland has an opening on the outside of the skin, called the duct of the gland. These sweat-glands, with their ducts, may be spoken of as the lungs of the skin, and are a very important part of its anatomy. On some parts of the skin we find hair growing in more or less abundance. This grows from the deeper layers of the skin. The skin also contains sebaceous or fat-glands, which are usually connected with the hairs of the skin and open into the same place on the skin where the hairs are found. We find these fat-glands also on the face and head, and other parts of the body where they are necessary. If these fat-ducts become stopped up, as they do sometimes on the face, the dirt then adheres to the fat in the ducts and produces what we call blackheads; and blackheads mean that there is not a healthy condition of the skin, because the fat is not thrown off as it should be from the skin. This should not be allowed to continue, but an effort should be made to press them out and so give the duct an opening. The face should be washed occasionally with warm green soap solution, to remove grease and dirt which otherwise is not removed. The skin is supplied with all these tissues for a purpose. It not only acts as a covering, but has other important functions. As a covering it protects the very soft and delicate tissues underneath. If one macerates the skin, or removes it by bruises or sores or burns, he can soon discover that there are delicate tissues underneath which when exposed give a great deal of pain. The skin acts as a protection to these many thousands of nerves which are beneath the skin. Another important function of the skin is the sense of touch. In the deeper layer, or the true skin, are nerve endings. In some parts of the body, such as the tips of the fingers, the palms of the hands, the lips, and the soles of the feet, we find these nerves of touch more abundant than in other parts. Another important function of the skin is that of the sweat-glands, which enable it to do excretory work. By means of the sweat-glands, water, which forms the greater part of the perspiration, is excreted, also some disease germs and poisonous matters. Inasmuch as the skin is so well supplied with these sweat-glands all over the body, it is extremely necessary that it should be kept in such condition that its glands can functionate. Suppose that the ducts of these glands should be stopped up by substances on the skin, which does occur if the skin is not frequently bathed; then a very important function of the skin is interfered with, and necessarily more work must be done by other excretory organs of the body than they normally should do. Many people suffer from obstructed elimination of the skin; and as a result the lungs and kidneys are overworked, because they must do some of the work which the skin fails to do. History tells us of a child in Europe who, to represent a goddess, was covered with gold-leaf. This child died in a few hours, because the excretory functions of the skin were entirely cut off by the gold-leaf. The skin is also an important agent in regulating the body temperature. This is done by means of the numerous blood-vessels in the deeper layers of the skin. In cases of fever the skin is hot, particularly if these blood-vessels contain a large amount of blood; and by sponging the body, we reduce the temperature, because we help to furnish evaporation from the hot, blood-filled skin. There is taking place all the time from our skin a certain unobserved evaporation, which is dependent upon a free circulation of blood in the skin. In pale skins this does not occur so well, because in such cases the blood-vessels of the skin are contracted; and as a result we have the internal organs, such as the liver, lungs, and stomach, engorged with blood, and so these organs become congested, producing disease. The nerves in the skin also affect greatly the circulation in the body. Through the skin, by the application of hot or cold or other stimulants to the nerves, we can regulate the internal temperature of the body. In fact the functions of all the organs of the body are influenced to a greater or less degree by the skin. This enables one to use the skin as a medium for treating diseased conditions of such organs as the liver, the lungs, the stomach, and the kidneys. From the above we can see that the care of the skin is extremely important as a means of maintaining the health of the body. Exercise is very essential to the health of the skin. By means of exercise, the circulation is increased in the skin, and the sweat-glands do better work. Indeed, the action of the sweat-glands is greatly dependent upon exercise. The Lord told Adam, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," because He knew it was good for him. Many people do not exercise until they sweat. Here they make a great mistake. The natural sweat which comes from exercise is very much more valuable than that which comes from simply taking a hot sweat-bath, because in exercise more poisons are eliminated than are eliminated in a sweat-bath. The sweat-bath can not take the place of exercise. We are instructed to work out our own salvation; and we can not relegate the work we should do, to the sweat-bath. Another important duty which we owe to our skin is bathing. Some sort of bath should be taken every day. As a means of stimulating better circulation in the skin, the cold friction to the skin is very valuable. This can be given by means of a rough mitt dipped in cold water and quickly rubbed over the skin. Some people can endure a short cold plunge. However, there are many who can not react well, and such people should only use the cold friction. Both accomplish the purpose, altho the plunge is more vigorous. Do not take prolonged cold baths, as they do not increase the blood supply of the skin, but rather decrease it. A warm bath is necessary to keep the skin clean. Even this should be followed by a short cool application to the skin, as the warm dilates the blood-vessels and does not stimulate their contraction. In connection with this warm bath, soap-suds should be used, so as to emulsify the fat which adheres to the skin. Some people have a softer and more sensitive skin than others. Such people should give their skin greater care, particularly in the use of the cold sponge-bath. Also the air-bath to the entire body is valuable. Diseases of the skin are often produced by soaps. Castile soap and vegetable soaps are not irritating to the skin. If the skin of the hands becomes diseased, as in eczema, make a change in the soap you are using. Some soaps which are highly perfumed are irritating, as is also ordinary laundry soap oftentimes. Woolen underwear next to the skin may be15an irritant. We find that the delicate skin of babies is often affected in this way, so that a rash appears all over the body. In such cases either linen or silk or even lisle thread underwear should be used next to the skin. Some skins become very dry and scaly, which interferes greatly with the elimination. Frequently in this condition the other eliminative organs need to be stimulated. Either there is constipation, or else the kidneys are not doing proper work. Often these skins are of a sallow, muddy appearance, accompanied by a coated tongue. The diet should be regulated, more fresh foods, such as fresh vegetables and fresh fruits, should be used. The skin should be rubbed with salt every other day until it is in better condition. This salt should be moistened a little before applying it, that it may not be too harsh. The use of the sweat-bath in such cases is also very valuable, followed by a cold sponge to the skin. Exercise daily in the fresh air is extremely important in the cure of such conditions. If your brain is not clear, or in other words is muddy, please notice if your skin also is not muddy. This means that you need to look after your elimination, of both the skin and other organs. One often gets an itching of the skin, particularly in the winter-time. This may be due to living in rooms where the air is too dry. Moisture should be added by putting a pan of water on the stove or on the hot coil, so that there is an evaporation in the air constantly. Oftentimes the cause is acidity in the blood, and the diet needs to be changed. The use of very hot or very cold many times aggravates this itching. A bath at body temperature is more agreeable in such instances.