- Straight Dope on Medicine
- Posts
- Straight Dope on Medicine: Future Skin
Straight Dope on Medicine: Future Skin
Scott Ganser
May 08, 2023
Skin is our largest organ. The skin and its derivatives (hair, nails, sweat and oil glands) make up the integumentary system. One of the main functions of the skin is protection. It protects the body from external factors such as bacteria, chemicals, and temperature.[i] The skin contains secretions that can kill bacteria and the pigment melanin provides a chemical pigment defense against ultraviolet light that can damage skin cells.
organ
A part of the body that performs a specific function. For example, the heart is an organ.[ii]
What are the five largest organs in the body?
The biggest solid internal organ is your liver, followed by your brain, lungs, heart, and kidneys.
The skin covers your whole body and makes up about 16 percent of your overall body mass. Your skin is approximately 2 millimeters thick.
UV
UV radiation (UV) is classified as a “complete carcinogen” because it is both a mutagen and a non-specific damaging agent and has properties of both a tumor initiator and a tumor promoter.[iii]
However, UV also benefits human health by mediating natural synthesis of vitamin D and endorphins in the skin, therefore UV has complex and mixed effects on human health. Nonetheless, excessive exposure to UV carries profound health risks, including atrophy, pigmentary changes, wrinkling and malignancy. UV is epidemiologically and molecularly linked to the three most common types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, which together affect more than a million Americans annually.
Layers
Epidermal structure and keratinocyte differentiation. The epidermis is a self-renewing tissue composed mainly of keratinocytes in various stages of terminal differentiation. Keratinocytes are produced in the stratum basale (basal layer), and move outward through the epidermis, undergoing a programmed series of differentiation involving enucleation and accumulation of cytokeratins and tight junctions with each other. Keratinocytes also receive melanin from melanocytes in the form of pre-packaged organelles termed melanosomes. The basic layers from the basement membrane outward are the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, and the stratum corneum, each identified by the morphology and differentiation state of the keratinocyte as indicated by expression of cytokeratins and other proteins.
Shedding
It’s called desquamation.
We shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour, which works out to be about 1.5 pounds of skin per year (there is some disagreement on this figure), or 105 pounds of skin by the time you reach age 70!
Scientists estimate that the human body is made up of around 10 trillion cells in total.[iv]
In brief, our skin is actually food to various fungi, bacteria, parasites and worms. If we didn’t shed it, we would succumb to a host of infections from these creatures.[v]
Another health benefit of shed skin cells is that it helps reduce indoor air pollution. A study in Environmental Science and Technology found that the oil in those shed skin cells actually reduces levels of ozone, which is a pollutant that irritates the eyes, nose and throat. According to scientists from the American Chemical Society, the oils contain cholesterol and “squalene” — an element that plays a central role “in oxidation chemistry within indoor environments.” Basically, this means it removes toxins from our breathing environment. A recent study on the positive effects of squalene found that it had the potential to reduce indoor ozone levels by up to 15 percent.
Facts
The average adult has nearly 21 square feet of skin that contains over 11 miles of blood vessels.
A single square inch of skin has about 300 sweat glands.
The thickest skin is found on your feet and the thinnest area of skin are your eyelids.
Your skin renews itself every 28 days and sheds about 9 pounds of dead skin cells every year.
Some of the dust in your home may actually be dead skin.
Your skin has some nerves that are connected to your muscles to help you react more quickly to extreme temperature or pain.
Changes in your skin can often be a warning sign of a medical condition or changes in your body health.
There are at least five types of receptors in the skin that respond to pain and touch.
Sleep is vital for healthy, vibrant, and youthful skin.[vi]
Skin in the Game
The global skin care products market size was valued at USD 130.50 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6% from 2022 to 2030. Escalating demand for face creams, sunscreens, and body lotions across the globe is expected to have a positive impact on the market growth over the forecast period. Moreover, the flourishing e-commerce sector is anticipated to boost market growth further.[vii]
Aging
Not everything gets better with time. Skin is no exception.
Your skin changes with age. It becomes thinner, loses fat, and no longer looks as plump and smooth as it once did. Your veins and bones can be seen more easily. Scratches, cuts, or bumps can take longer to heal. Years of suntanning or being out in the sunlight for a long time may lead to wrinkles, dryness, age spots, and even cancer.[viii]
With age come wrinkles, age spots, sagging and skin tags.
What to do? What to do?
How about trading in your old skin for a newer model?
This technology is not available yet, but they are working on it.
Most assuredly these science types were inspired by Cher:
If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I'd take back those words that have hurt you
And you'd stay[ix]
Turn has reported initial success.
Preclinical data from Turn Biotechnologies demonstrated that the company’s mRNA-based ERA (Epigenetic Reprogramming of Aging) technology rejuvenates skin cells more effectively and safely than existing treatments. ERA rejuvenates cells without disrupting cellular identity by targeting epigenomes (chemical compounds that tell cells what to do) to restore cell function, using mRNA to deliver transcription factors to the epigenome.
Topline data from skin tests revealed that ERA reversed the hallmarks of aging in skin and increased fibroblast proliferation, restoring the production of key extracellular matrix proteins and reducing inflammation markers, oxidative stress, senescence and matrix metalloproteinases.
"We want people to understand the breakthrough success our technology has had in a preclinical setting and share our excitement for the promise it offers to produce cures for many untreatable age-related conditions."
Turn Bio rejuvenates cells without inducing pluripotency, meaning cells maintain their defining properties and can perform their functions as they would when they were more youthful and vigorous.[x]
[i] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/8912.htm#:~:text=The%20skin%20is%20the%20largest,bacteria%2C%20chemicals%2C%20and%20temperature.
[iii] D'Orazio J, Jarrett S, Amaro-Ortiz A, Scott T. UV radiation and the skin. Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Jun 7;14(6):12222-48. doi: 10.3390/ijms140612222. PMID: 23749111; PMCID: PMC3709783.
[v] https://www.meadvilletribune.com/archives/you-do-shed-your-skin-and-its-good-for-you/article_125ee27f-31bf-58c2-892b-d155258174ac.html#:~:text=We%20shed%20about%20600%2C000%20particles,%2C%20bacteria%2C%20parasites%20and%20worms.
[vi] https://www.olanskydermatology.com/blog/ten-fun-facts-about-your-skin/#:~:text=Your%20skin%20makes%20up%20about,of%20skin%20are%20your%20eyelids.