Skin function

Skin functions as both, an important physical barrier to the absorption of toxic substances and simultaneously as a portal of entry of such substances. The stratum comeum of the epidermis is most significant in providing some degree of physical... 

General functions of the skin are outlined in Table 1. These functions include containment of tissues and organs, multifaceted protections, environmental sensing, and body temperature regulation. Some skin functions are inextricably entwined. For instance, containment and the barrier functions are to some extent inseparable. Active sweating is accompanied by increased peripheral blood flow, which in turn is tied in with greater nourishment of the cells of the skin as needed to promote their proliferation, differentiation, and specialization. 

Wainwright SA, Vosburgh F, Hebrank JH (1978) Shark skin - function in locomotion. Science... 

As a physician, Burke knew a great deal about the biology of skin function, but not as much about the structural characteristics of a possible skin substitute. To help him with this part of his research, Burke turned to loannis V. Yannas, then assistant professor of fibers and polymers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), just across the Charles River from MGH. Working together Burke and Yannas developed the first successful skin substitute by 1977. In November of that year, they were awarded a patent for a "Multilayer Membrane Useful as Synthetic Skin."... 

Q Effects of Natural Moisturizing Factor and Lactic Acid Isomers on Skin Function... 

Lanolin and its numerous derivatives have been widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries for many years as vehicles for active ingredients and for their beneficial effects on skin function.3 Although purified lanolin is used without incident by millions of people, confusion still exists concerning the possible allergenic potential of lanolin. The extremely low incidence of sensitization of healthy individuals to purified lanolin used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries has been comprehensively reviewed.4-6... 

Frosch PJ, Kligman AM (eds) (1993) Noninvasive methods for the quantification of skin functions. Karger, Basel Griffith JF, Weaver JE, Whitehouse HS et al. (1969) Safety evaluation of enzyme detergents. Oral and cutaneous toxicity, irritancy and skin sensitization studies. Food Cosmet Toxicol 7 581-593... 

Ckin, the most expansive human organ, envelops the entire surface of the body such that its epithelium is continuous with the epithelia of the external orifices of the digestive, sweat, sebaceous, respiratory, and urinogenic systems. As a result of its anatomical location, the skin functions as the physical interface between the body tissues and the environment. The physiological functions of the skin are protection, containment, and thermoregulation. 

Decubitus ulcers and pressure sores can be covered with a vapor permeable film. The films resistance to shear and low frictional surface properties protect the dermal layers from additional physical abrasion while producing the minimal barrier to normal skin function which allows them to be used as a prophylactic in areas that are traumatized by pressure but not ulcerated. 

Eberlein-Konig B, Przybilla B, Kuhnl P, et al. 1998. Influence of airborne nitrogen dioxide or formaldehyde on parameters of skin function and cellular activation in patients with atopic eczema and control subjects. J Allergy Clin Immunol 101 141-143. 

Westerberg, R., Tvrdik, P, Unden, A.B., Mansson, J.E., Norlen, L., Jakobsson, A., Holleran, W.H., Elias, P.M., Asadi, A., Flodby, P, ToftgSrd, R., Capecchi, M.R., Jacobsson, A. 2004. Role for ELOVL3 and fatty acid chain length in development of hair and skin function. J. Biol. Chem. 279 5621-5629. 

Human skin represents the largest organ, which is characterized by a surface area of 18,000 cm. It constitutes 4% of the total body weight. With a thickness of approximately 2 mm, the skin is about 10 to 10 times less permeable than blood capillary wall [Banga, 1998], Skin functions to protect the host from physical as well as chemical assault prevent excessive transepidermal water loss and dehydration and perform thermoregulation, sensing, and endocrine activity [Menon, 2002 Fartasch, 1996 Labrie et al., 2001],... 

Features Active ingred. improving skin function Trade Name Synonyms Luminex [lkeda http //www.ikeda-corp. co.jp]... 

Frosch PJ, Kurte A, Pilz B (1993) Biophysical techniques for the evaluation of skin protective creams. In Frosch PJ, Kligman AM (eds) Noninvasive methods for the quantifica- 47. tion of skin functions. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York,... 

Children and particularly babies have a large relative body surface area. Premature babies also have a thinner skin than adults, and lack the outer skin layer known as the homy layer or stratum comeum. In a young child with eczema, the skin may also be more damaged than in an adult with eczema. Therefore, the skin functions less well as barrier. Furthermore, application of any creams or ointments under a nappy or diaper prevents trans-epidermal water loss and leads to an increased absorption of the active substance. 

Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid is a water soluble vitamin, which is mainly produced by chemical routes. Pantothenic acid is required for normal skin function as it leads to formation of coenzyme Q and is involved in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. Dex-panthenol, an alcoholic analog of pantothenic acid is more stable and has good skin penetration than pantothenic acid. Dexpanthenol is mainly used for topical application on skin and serves as good moisturizer and thus improves the cosmetic appearance of skin. It has mild skin inflammatory activity, but is well tolerated by skin. Pantothenic acid improves wound healing, epidermal regeneration, and reduces scarring also. So, pantothenic acid itself can be used in various skin care formulations. Pantothenic acid is used in hair care formulation as it hydrates the hair and protects the hair fiom chemicals and UV rays. ... 

ZuUi F, Suter F, Biltz H, Nissen HP. Improving skin function with CM-glucan, a biological response modifier from yeast. Int J Cosmet Sd 1998 20 79-86. 

Coderch L, L6pez O, de la Maza A, Parra JL. Ceramides and skin function. Am J Clin Dermatol 2003 4 107-29. 

---