Name the largest organ in your body?

Pub quizzers will all be sitting looking smug because this is one of the classic trick questions. No, it’s not your liver, although the liver performs the most diverse variety of functions, it is actually the skin which is the largest in terms of physical mass.

And it does more than making sure that everything else is tucked away and keeping the rain out; maintaining body temperature, expressing emotion, forming a barrier to the elements, our skin is perfectly adapted to help our bodies stay in equilibrium with our surroundings and because it has to also be able to cope with every movement we make and sudden changes in our environment it is stressed in the most direct way, every minute of every day.

Anyone who has come off a sports pitch after playing 90 minutes in the freezing cold and wet only to jump into the shower or a hot bath can immediately attest to the ability of the skin to cope with sudden changes in temperature and humidity.

So how is this achieved? The answer to this question lies in the very nature of the skin itself.  Skin is composed of two primary layers, the epidermis, which contains no blood vessels but provides waterproofing and serves as a barrier to infection, (the “cling film”) and the dermis which contains the blood vessels and provides the cushioning we need from the outside world as well as containing the blood vessels and glands.

Treat your skin like quality leather?

Our skin is mammalian, differing from that of animals in that it does not have fur - the human equivalent of the cow’s hide, and if we don’t care for it that is exactly what it’s going to look and feel like. Whether shoes, jackets, handbags or furniture we all know that natural materials need a bit of TLC to stay at their best.  Ensuring that it is not exposed to intense direct light for long periods, that it is kept supple and not allowed to dry out and crack due to lack of moisturizing leather conditioner.  If you are lucky enough to have a pair of Manolos or Louboutins, I bet you don’t just wear them out in the wet to go shopping for your groceries!

Your skin is the same; it needs that care and maintenance that you would not hesitate to give an expensive pair of shoes, whether by protecting them from damaging conditions or maintaining their flexibility and appearance with a specialist shoe cream.  So you should use a specialist natural moisturising cream to give your skin the treatment it deserves.

               

Get some ‘lip service’ over winter

As winter approaches we need to change our approach to skincare, cold temperatures and drying winds can be very wearing and particular attention needs to be paid to the delicate areas.  Many people find that their lips can become badly chapped and sore, for a very good reason. The skin of the lips is much thinner than that on the rest of the face and of course it is under tremendous strain accommodating the sudden stretches and puckering from speaking, smiling and eating. Regular application of moisturisers and barrier creams are very helpful and men need to realize that they are not immune and a little pot or tube of lip balm can make the difference between comfort and misery. It doesn’t have to come in grapefruit or cherry flavour, there are many neutral options and there is definitely something out there to suit everyone.  Anyone of Marble Hill’s moisturising creams also act as great natural non fragranced lip balms.

Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise

A good moisturiser is vital for exposed faces and hands to help maintain skin at its best and minimize the likelihood of eczema and hacks. If your skin is prone to eczema try to avoid extremes of temperature- too hot and dry indoors or intense cold while you are out and about.. Remember to wear well-insulating gloves, avoiding wool as it can cause irritation. Fingers are very vulnerable to becoming cold quicker than other parts of the body and as anyone who has eczema knows it only takes moments to trigger a flare –up but it can take months to get back to normal. Sore, cracked hands are a real source of misery so do take care.

To find out more visit our website at www.marblehillonline.co.uk