The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-02-17
Home Course In
Health Culture
W.-Hygiene of the Skin
and Its Appendices
By EUGENE l.. FISK. N. d.
1910. by American Press
Association
q Lie skin is one of the most i'm
portant organs OF the body.

tective covering for muscle, bone and
other underlying structures.
1t IL n fact, however. that the skin
a. vital organ and that paralysis of
jts functions would result In death
One OF tho most important functions
OF the skin is to regulate the body
heat This 1t does largely through the
evaporation of water brought to the
surface by the sweat glands. 1t has
been estimated that there are about
100000 of these glands In the skin
OF the average Individual and that
they daily pour out from one TO three
pints of water containing salts and
waste products.
In very warm weather this loss is
quite apparent, but in ordinary wealth.
er we are not conscious of 1t, and 1t
1s termed lnsensible perspiration.
When the air contains u great deal
Of moisture and the weather man re.
ports excessive humidity, the evapora.
tion of moisture from the skin is re.
tarded and great discomfort results.
The reverse condition obtains, Of
course, when the air Is dry.
Understanding the functions Of the
skin. we can readily comprehend what
grave injury to other organs may re-
suit IL these functions are suspended.
When the weather becomes suddenly
cold the blood vessels of the skin con-
tract, and n greater burden is thrown
upon the kidneys. which at once be-
come more active, If they are able to
respond. When the skin is not In a
healthy condition Its heat regulating
and waste exCreting functions are
chemically disturbed, with the result
that other organs must bear the bur
den. This means that the bodily re-
sistance to disease Is lessened.
Structure Of tho Skin.
The skin is composed Of two ayers
the epidermis, or what Is termed the
scarf skin" and the derma, or true
skin" The epidermis is composed Of
several layers of eplthelial cells, which
act as a protective coating for the
derma. The derma contains the seba-
ceous or oil glands, the sweat glands,
roots of the hair. blood vessels. fat,
nerves. etc.
The cells Of the epidermis are con-
stantly drying up and are removed by
bathing and the friction Of the clothes
TO maintain healthy action Of the
skin the daily bath is important. MIL
hons Of people seem to get along fair
" we'll without bathing, but millions
Of people have died before their time
in consequence Of neglecting such by
Cienic measures as are now known to
promote good health and resistance to
disease.
A daily cold bath should be taken
by all who can react from the shock
without feeling "shivery" and chilled.
For the more delicate a daily tepid
bath. with light sponging or spraying
Of neck and chest with cool water, will
assist in maintaining q proper tone to
the circulation Of the skin and forttty
against colds. bronchitis. pneumonia
and tuberculosis.
Importance Of Cleansing Scalp.
A great deal Of time and money are
wasted in trying to make hair grow In
poor soil. 1t is q curious but illumi-
mating fact that II It is quite as diff
cult to destroy superhuous hair as It
is to induce hair to grow where 1t Is
desired. These facts are readily ac-
counted for when we consider that the
papillae, upon which the growth Of
hair depends, are located deeply in the
layers Of the true skin. where neither
hair tonics nor hair destroyers can
reach them.
1t Ia true Of the scalp as Of all other
parts of the body that 1t Is easier to
prevent disease than to cure 1t. Pre-
vention of dandrufr, which Is the usual
cause OF badness. Is not ordinarily a
difficult matter. Sometimes this con-
dition as well as falling of the hair is
due to a debilitated nervous system.
which must first be treated before To-
cal measures are Of much avail. The
average individual, however, can pre-
vent dandruf and resultant badness
by keeping the scalp clean.
The scalp Is prone to collect dirt.
dust and germs. Dandrufr is thought
by some to be due to a germ. but this
is all the greater reason for frequently
cleansing the scalp.
Shaupooins and Scalp Massage.
A mistaken idea exists that the hair
is injured by frequent washing. As a
rule. both scalp and hair are benefited
thereby provided they are carefully
dried Neglect to dry the hair leads
TO decomposition at the roots and i'm
pairment of Its vigor. In the summer
time exposure to the sunlight will as
sist In thorough drying. In the win
Ger time hot towels should be used.
hedicated soaps are not OF much
value. Any pure soap will answer.
Tncture OF green soap is an excellent
preparation. There is no danger of
undue loss of oil from the hair, as the
oil glands In the skin quickly replace
what ia washed away. In fact. by
clearing away the dead cells and
cleansing the oriflces of the glands the
oil supply may be increased, In old
enses OF dandruff the head should be
ehampooed several times a week until
the scalp Is restored to healthier
condition, and then twice a month will
usually suffice.
The hair should be briSkly brushed