St. Landry democrat., 1880-05-08
BEAUTY BUT SKIN DEEP,
How TO Beautify, How to Preserve, and
How to Treat, when Diseased,
the Skin and Scalp.
by NJ. e. JossELYN, NJ. D., OF NEW YORK.

Apart from the suffering caused by skin
diseases, their influence on the happiness of
those to whom a delicate and pearly complex
ion is the dearest wish of their lives is para
mount to ali others. No lady afflicted with
cutaneous eruptions, or loss of hair, viii deny
tresses she would gladly exchange the disfg-
urations that now mar her otherwise hand
some face. hands, or hair, for other diseases
existence be concealed from the public eye.
Many an estimable lady's life has been embit-
tered by cutaneous affections. She imagines
that every one sees and comments upon her
looks. She avoids society and public places,
and endeavors to hide her misery in seciuson.
Here the struggle to improve her appearance
dangerous to be used. Arsenic is devoured in
large quantities, mercury is taken internally
and applied externally, until the teeth rattle
in their loosened sockets, and the system
obliged to carry.
If such be the feelings Of one afflicted with
slight skin blemishes, what must be the con-
dition of those suffering from salt rheum, tet-
ter riDgworm, pempbigus, psoriasis, leprosy,
lichen, prurigo and scald head? No pen can
be m tnsy
blessing. The burning heat, inflammation
and itching nearly impel the sufferer to do
ings. have seen patients tear their flesh
with their nails until the blood flowed in
streams. Others have told me that they could
cut the flesh from their limbs, SO great was
the agony they endured.
With a view to impart some useful informa-
ton on the construction and preservation Of
the skin scalp, and hair, and the proper treat
ment OF them when diseased, have here con-
densed to a popular form such information rs
is most desired.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SKIN.
The skin is composed of two layers, which
may be separated from each other by the &C.
tion of a blister. The thin portion which is
raised up by the blister is called the scarf skin,
the cuticle, or the epidermis; that which re-
mains in connection with the body is the sensi-
tive skin, the cults, the derma, or the true
skin. Each has separate duties to perform.
The scarf skin is horny and insensible, and
serves as sheath to protect the more sensi-
tive skin under it. We're the scarf skin taken
off, we could not bear to have anything touch
us. The derma or true skin, and its glands,
diseases.
THE OIL AND SWEAT GLANDS.
That the skin may be pliable and healthy It
is necessary to have it oiled every day; andfor
this the Creator has wisely provided by placing
in the true skin small glands and tubes, whose
office It is to prepare and pour out upon the
parts Of the body they do not exist, but are
abundant on the face, nose, ears, head, eye
lids, etc. They produce the wax of the ears,
the hair, and furnish it with natures own hair
oil or pomade. When the skin is healthy, these
little vessels are always at work, and constant
them; Consequently no person should be
afraid to wash thoroughly every day with soap
and water, lest, as the Boston Medical Jour
nal once taught, the skin be injured by hay
ing the oil removed from it.
FREQUENT wASHINGS WITH PURE SOAP
free from caustic aikaIies) and lukewarm
water, followed by brisk rubbing with q coarse
towel, will do more to preserve the healthy acs
ton of the oil glands and tubes, upon which
depends clear and wholesome complexion,
than all the cosmetics in the world. So i'm
portant is the free and perfect action of the
sweat and fat or oil glands in the preservation
of the general health, as well as the special
condition Of the skin, that particular attention
to them will be rewarded by increased physical
health. They discharge upon the surface of
the body about two and one-haf pounds of
matter per day, and their importance in the
publication of the blood and fluids of the body
Is 80 great that, were they closed by an imper-
vions coating, like rubber or oiled silk, death
would soon ensue.
THE GREAT SKIN AND SCALP DISEASES
But bad as are minor forms of skin diseases,
they sink into insignificance when compared
with the great skin and scalp diseases with
which thousands are afflicted during their
whole lives. That tho reader may know more
about them, the principal affections are here
named. emitting such as are symptoms Of con-
stItutiona! diseases. like measles, rash, etc.
The most important are salt rheum or eczema,