Your skin performs many functions related to immunity. A healthy skin, with proper care and nutrition, can protect or boost your immunity.
There are two types of immunities: Innate and Adaptive. Under innate immunity, our body has various protective barriers. Our skin is the first and the most visible barrier.
Our skin performs 4 tasks related to immunity:
1. Providing a physical barrier
2. Secreting anti-microbial chemicals
3. Producing vitamin D on sun exposure
4. Nourishing healthy skin bacterial flora
The video explains that compounds such as ceramides and collagen keep the skin firm and healthy. Wound healing is important since pathogens can enter our body through broken skin.
Our skin is acidic in pH. The skin maintains its pH below 5.5, which prevents bad microbes from surviving on the skin easily. Using cleansers that are not pH-balanced can make the skin environment less hostile for external pathogens, increasing the chances of infection.
A regular sun exposure to the skin is important for vitamin D production. Vitamin D has many important roles in our immunity. However, the sun exposure duration will be different for different skin types, locations and times of the year.
One should not use anti-bacterial soaps, creams with strong preservatives or chemicals. One should also avoid using exfoliating scrubs frequently. They destroy healthy bacterial flora that is present on the skin. This good bacterial flora prevents pathogens from taking root in the skin crevices. Those microbes also compete with pathogens for nutrients. The good bacterial flora may even help in preventing skin cancer.
This video lays a foundation for a subsequent video that covers the role of various macronutrients as well as vitamins and minerals in helping the skin perform its immune tasks better.
This video offers research-based information to discerning viewers. It uses conclusions published in renowned medical journals and resources for any health claims.
This channel, Health Sachet, will have regular videos with preventive health tips, on topics such as lifestyle disorders, fitness, and pollution hazard.
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Our email: health.sachet@gmail.com
Content by:
Madhur Kotharay
Email: madhur@alumni.princeton.edu
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