Skin, Acne, and the Integumentary System

Kenzie Fisher

11/6/2018

Integumentary System

There are five human systems: circulation, brain and nerves, digestion, bones and joints, and the skin, hair, and nails otherwise referred to as the Integumentary system (Green 4).The Integumentary system includes: the skin, hair, nails, and certain glands and accounts for fifteen percent of body weight (Bruck, 91). The skin or cutaneous membrane has two basic layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer, but technically is not a layer, but it does have significance structurally, which is able to be seen in the diagram (Doyle). The epidermis is between less than 0.1mm to more than 1mm thick. It is worn away continuously and renewed and contains melanin which is a brown pigment that helps to filter ultraviolet light. The dermis which is also called the corium is an elastic system that contains and supports blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, nerves, and epidermal appendages, made up of matrix. This matrix contains connective tissue fibers including: collagen, elastin, reticular fibers, and it also insulates the body (Bruck, 91-92). “The function of the skin is to regulate body temperature, defend the body against harmful substances that try to enter it, protect structures and internal organs from injury, and it is involved with the secretion of waste” (Doyle).

Acne is a skin disease that deals with and affects the follicles, or the pores, that cover someone’s face and body and is an inflammatory skin eruption caused by some plugged sebaceous glands, which results in papules and pustules (Ceaser 9, Bruck, 108). A follicle is a tiny duct where hair grows and at the bottom of the follicle is a sebaceous gland which produces oil called sebum (Ceaser 9).

Acneis caused by the action of hormones on the oil gland. The glands, which can be viewed in the picture,become overactive and then pimples develop which often are accompanied by inflammation (Doyle). There are four main types of acne lesions: comedo, papule, pustule, and cyst. There are three kinds of acne types: a blackhead, whitehead, or a pimple. A whitehead occurs when an oil gland is blocked by sebum, which is an oily secretion, which then appears on the surface of the skin. A blackhead is the external opening of the duct when it is evident (Crump 30). When the sebaceous glands produce too much oil, the increased amount of oil causes the follicle to become sticky and clogged with oil and dead skin (ACNE 2005). Then bacteria mixes with oil and gets into the follicle which cause it to get infected which then cause it to become red and inflamed, inflammation causes redness and swelling, and inflamed pores are skin blemishes known as acne lesions, which are noticed in the picture. The hormone that causes acne is androgen and for women acne likely to happen 2 to 7 days before a woman’s menstrual cycle because, hormonal changes go on around then and the androgens can take advantage of it. Acne is inherited or runs in the family meaning if both of someone’s parents had problems with their skin then so will their child, because oily skin is inherited from parents. Some things that are assumed to cause acne but really aren’t proven to do so are: diet, hygiene, stress, and sex, although some people still do believe that they do. Some things that could cause it are tanning, some sweating, touching the skin, clothing that puts pressure or irritates the skin, some cosmetics, and hair can help or sometimes cause it (Ceaser 9, 11-13, 42-44, 46-48.

Symptoms of acne include: blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, which are some that are large red bumps, and oily skin. The oily skin is from the over production of the sebaceous gland and this gland makes oil due to the hormone androgen (Ceaser 11-12).

There are many current treatments today. Some include over the counter treatments and prescription treatments. Over the counter treatments are topical which means that they are put on the surface of skin. They help control how much oil is on the face and help to make the shedding of skin cells normal. Prescription treatments are oral medications, which can lower the inflammation of acne lesions, decrease the size of the sebaceous glands, lower the amount of sebum that is being produced, and help balance the effect of the androgens in the females only (Ceaser 19-20, 27). Future treatments are being worked on daily.

Statistical information show that 73 percent of teens will sometime suffer from breakouts ranging from twelve to nineteen years of age. It also shows that up to 70 percent of young women notice their acne worsens around their menstrual cycles (Ceaser 13).

Acne affects the Integumentary system by the way it is formed. It also is because there is too much oil causing pores to be clogged which then leads to bumps, which can be painful, blackheads, or whiteheads (Ceaser 9).

Acne is a skin disease that deals with and affects the follicles, or the pores, that cover someone’s face and body and is an inflammatory skin eruption caused by some plugged sebaceous glands, which results in papules and pustules (Ceaser 9, Bruck, 108). The Integumentary system is the largest body system that includes: the skin, hair, nails, and certain glands (Bruck, 91). The skin or cutaneous membrane has two basic layers: the epidermis and the dermis.Acne is produced because of the action of hormones on the oil gland, the glands become overactive and then pimples develop which often are accompanied by inflammation (Doyle). Some medicines to help acne are over the counter and prescription treatments (Ceaser 19, 27. Acne affects the skin and the Integumentary system and is all connected together.

References

ACNE. (2005). In CareNotes. Thomson Healthcare, Inc.. Retrieved November 29, 2006,fromExpanded Academic ASAP via Thomson Gale:

Bruck, L., Donofrio, L., Follin,S.A., Levine, J.,Thompson (Ed.). (2005). Medical terminology made incredibly easy. Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Ceaser, J (2000). Everything thing you need to know about Acne A helping book for teens. New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

Crump, M (2002). Don't sweat it!. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing Inc

Doyle, M. (Ed.). Human Body on File: Physiology(1996). Skin: Structure and Function. New York, NY: Facts on File, Inc.

Green, J (2006). Your body and health Skin, hair, and hygiene. Mankato, MN: Aladdin Books Ltd.