THE SKIN

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 Table of Content

Acknowledgement………………………………………3

Introduction……………………………………………..4

Anatomy of The Skin……………………………………5

Changes in Skin Condition Associated with Aging…….6-7

Skin Colour Variation And Causes……………………..8

Basic Types of Lesions………………………………...9-10

Glossary………………………………………………..11

Bibliography……………………………………………12

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 Acknowledgement

The success and final outcome of this project required a lot of guidance and
assistance from many people and I am extremely privileged to have got this all along
the completion of my project. All that I have done is only due to such supervision and
assistance and I would not forget to thank them. I respect and thank Ms. Foster, for
providing me an opportunity to do this project and giving us all support and guidance
which made me complete the project duly. I am extremely thankful to God and
everyone who supported and helped in the completion of this project.

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 Introduction

The skin is a vital organ that covers the entire outside of the body, forming a protective
barrier against pathogens and injuries from the environment. The skin is the body's largest organ;
covering the entire outside of the body, it is about 2 mm thick and weighs approximately six
pounds. There are many variations in skin which varies from individual to individual..As we get
older, various characteristics change, in the this project we wil look at the aforementioned

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 ANATOMY OF THE SKIN

The skin protects us from microbes and the elements, helps regulate body temperature, and
permits the sensations of touch, heat, and cold. 

The primary function of the epidermis is to protect your body by keeping things that might be
harmful out and keeping the things your body needs to function properly in. Bacteria, viruses and
other infectious agents are kept out, helping prevent infections on your skin.

The dermis is a fibrous structure composed of collagen, elastic tissue, and other extracellular
components that includes vasculature, nerve endings, hair follicles, and glands. The role of
the dermis is to support and protect the skin and deeper layers, assist in thermoregulation, and aid
in sensation.

The subcutaneous layer acts as a layer of insulation to protect your internal organs and muscles
from shock and changes in temperature. It also provides your body with an energy reserve.

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 CHANGES IN SKIN CONDITION ASSOCIATED WITH AGING

With aging, the outer skin layer (epidermis) thins, even though the number of cell layers remains
unchanged.

 The number of pigment-containing cells (melanocytes) decreases. The remaining

melanocytes increase in size. Aging skin looks thinner, paler, and clear (translucent).
Pigmented spots including age spots or "liver spots" may appear in sun-exposed areas.
The medical term for these areas is lentigos.
 Changes in the connective tissue reduce the skin's strength and elasticity. This is known
as elastosis. It is more noticeable in sun-exposed areas (solar elastosis). Elastosis
produces the leathery, weather-beaten appearance common to farmers, sailors, and others
who spend a large amount of time outdoors.
 The blood vessels of the dermis become more fragile. This leads to bruising, bleeding
under the skin (often called senile purpura), cherry angiomas, and similar conditions.
 Sebaceous glands produce less oil as you age. Men experience a minimal decrease, most
often after the age of 80. Women gradually produce less oil beginning after menopause.
This can make it harder to keep the skin moist, resulting in dryness and itchiness.
 The subcutaneous fat layer thins so it has less insulation and padding. This increases your
risk of skin injury and reduces your ability to maintain body temperature. Because you
have less natural insulation, you can get hypothermia in cold weather.
 Some medicines are absorbed by the fat layer. Shrinkage of this layer may change the
way that these medicines work.
 The sweat glands produce less sweat. This makes it harder to keep cool. Your risk for
overheating or developing heat stroke increases.
 Growths such as skin tags, warts, brown rough patches (seborrheic keratoses), and other
blemishes are more common in older people. Also common are pinkish rough patches
(actinic keratosis) which have a small chance of becoming a skin cancer.

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Effect of Changes

As you age, you are at increased risk for skin injury. Your skin is thinner, more fragile, and you
lose some of the protective fat layer. You also may be less able to sense touch, pressure,
vibration, heat, and cold.

Rubbing or pulling on the skin can cause skin tears. Fragile blood vessels can break easily.
Bruises, flat collections of blood (purpura), and raised collections of blood (hematomas) may
form after even a minor injury.

Pressure ulcers can be caused by skin changes, loss of the fat layer, reduced activity, poor
nutrition, and illnesses. Sores are most easily seen on the outside surface of the forearms, but
they can occur anywhere on the body.

Aging skin repairs itself more slowly than younger skin. Wound healing may be up to 4 times
slower. This contributes to pressure ulcers and infections. Diabetes, blood vessel changes,
lowered immunity, and other factors also affect healing.

Common Problems

Skin disorders are so common among older people that it is often hard to tell normal changes
from those related to a disorder. More than 90% of all older people have some type of skin
disorder.

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 SKIN COLOUR VARIATION AND CAUSES

Human skin comes in a wide variety of colours, ranging from shades of dark brown to
almost white. Although an individual’s skin colour is influenced by numerous factors, the most
significant is its content of a pigment called melanin. Melanin is also the pigment responsible for
deermining hair and eye colour.

Levels of melanin are primarily determined by genetics; individuals born to fair skinned
parents will inherit their parent’s fair skin, as individuals born to dark skinned parents will inherit
dark skin. The level of inherited skin pigmentation is referred to as constitutive pigmentation. A
number of other factors determined at birth, for example the way a person’s body produces
hormones and the way these hormones signal the cells which produce melanin, also influence
skin colour. These factors inherited at birth, which cannot be changed, are referred to as intrinsic
factors.
Extrinsic factors, things outside the body, also influence skin colour and provide acquired
pigmentation. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the most important extrinsic
factor. The sun emits UVA and UVB rays and the different types of UV rays have different
effects on skin pigmentation. Exposure to UVA rays produces immediate pigmentation by
influencing melanin which has already been produced and is waiting in the skin’s upper layers.
Pigmentation which occurs several days after sun exposure is a result of new melanin being
produced in response to UVB exposure. Other extrinsic factors which influence skin
pigmentation and colour include DNA damage (often induced by UVB exposure) and age, as the
way the body produces melanin changes as a person ages.

Skin type

Skin type is a classification based on the skin’s reaction to exposure to the sun’s UV radiation,
after a period of non-exposure (e.g. sun exposure at the beginning of summer, when the skin has
not been exposed during winter). The skin’s reaction is measured in terms of burning and
tanning.

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 BASIC TYPES OF LESIONS

What are Lesions?

A skin lesion is a part of the skin that has an abnormal growth or appearance compared to the
skin around it.

Two categories of skin lesions exist: primary and secondary.

 Primary skin lesions are abnormal skin conditions present at birth or acquired over a
person’s lifetime.

 Secondary skin lesions are the result of irritated or manipulated primary skin lesions. For
example, if someone scratches a mole until it bleeds, the resulting lesion, a crust, is now a
secondary skin lesion.

Primary Skin Lesions:

 Birthmarks: These are the most common primary skin lesions. They  include moles,
port-wine stains, nevi, etc.
 Blisters: Blisters are skin lesions that are less than half a centimeter in diameter and
filled with clear fluid. Small blisters are called vesicles and larger ones are called the
bullae. Blisters may be caused by burns (including sunburns), viral infections (herpes
zoster), friction due to shoes or clothes, insect bites, drug reactions, etc.
 Macules: Macules are flat skin lesions. They are small (less than one centimeter in
diameter) and may be brownish or reddish. Freckles and flat moles are examples of
macules. A macular rash is commonly seen in measles.
 Nodules: Nodules are soft or firm, raised skin lesions that are less than two centimeters
in diameter. The nodules are seen in certain diseases such
as neurofibromatosis and leprosy.
 Papule: Papules are raised lesions and usually develop with other papules. A patch of
papules or nodules is called a plaque. Plaques are commonly seen in psoriasis. Papules
may be seen in viral infections, such as measles, or may occur due to mosquito bites.

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  Pustule: Pustules are pus-filled lesions. Boils and abscesses are examples of pustules.
 Wheals: Wheals are swollen, raised bumps or plaques that appear suddenly on the skin.
They are mostly caused by an allergic reaction. For example, hives (also
called urticaria), insect bites, etc.

Secondary Skin Lesions:

 Crust: A crust or a scab is a type of skin lesion that forms over a scratched, injured or
irritated primary skin lesion. It is formed from the dried secretions over the skin.
 Ulcer: Ulcers are a break in the continuity of the skin or mucosa. Skin ulcers are caused
by an infection or trauma. Poor blood circulation, diabetes, smoking and/or bedridden
status increase the risk of ulcers.
 Scales: Scales are patches of skin cells that build up and flake off the skin. Patches are
often seen in psoriasis and cause bleeding when they are removed.
 Scar: Injuries, such as scratches, cuts and scrapes, can leave scars. Some scars may be
thick and raised. These may cause itching or oozing and appear reddish or brownish.
These are called keloids.
 Skin atrophy: Skin atrophy occurs when areas of the skin become thin and wrinkled.
This could occur due to the frequent use of steroid creams, radiation therapy or poor
blood circulation.

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 GLOSSARY

Aging: Aging is a gradual, continuous process of natural change that begins in early adulthood.
During early middle age, many bodily functions begin to gradually decline. People do not
become old or elderly at any specific age.

Dermis: The dermis is the layer of skin that lies beneath the epidermis and above the
subcutaneous layer. It is the thickest layer of the skin, and is made up of fibrous and elastic
tissue. Thus it provides strength and flexibility to the skin.

Epidermis: The epidermis is the outermost of the three layers that make up the skin, the inner
layers being the dermis and hypodermis.

Melanin: Melanin is a natural skin pigment. Hair, skin, and eye color in people and animals
mostly depends on the type and amount of melanin they have. Special skin cells called
melanocytes make melanin.

Skin: The body's outer covering, which protects against heat and light, injury, and infection.

Skin lesion: A skin lesion is a part of the skin that has an abnormal growth or appearance
compared to the skin around it.

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 Bibliography

Shirlene, Campbell. “Skin Care”, 2019, MayoClinic.org, Chicago Ilinois, America

Archer, C, “Skin Conditions”, 2017, Hartford University, Cambrige, England

Shirlene, Campbell. “Lesions”, 2020, MayoClinic.org, Chicago Ilinois, America

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