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Elias and Williams: The Inside-Out of Skin by dermatologists and skin researchers Peter M. Elias, M.D. and Mary L. Williams, M.D.

The Inside-Out of Skin

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Inside the Skin Barrier

This website is devoted to the permeability barrier - the most critical, life-enabling function of skin. By preventing loss of water from the skin's surface, the barrier preserves the body's internal milieu against dessication in a dry environment.

What Is The Skin Barrier, And Why Does It Matter?

June 2, 2015 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. & Mary L. Williams, M.D. 3 Comments

The skin barrier is like a brick wall. The cells or "bricks" are surrounded by fat (lipids) or "mortar"
The skin barrier is like a brick wall. The cells or “bricks” are surrounded by fat (lipids) or “mortar”. Credit: Mary L. Williams

Why Have A Skin Barrier?

Our skin barrier is what stands between us and the outside world. But the skin barrier is more than a mere fence or line drawn in the sand to separate “inside” from “outside”, or “here” from “over there”. Our skin barrier protects from many different types of threats to our well-being. We probably think of these primarily as perils coming from the outside, such as bacteria or other microbes. Or toxic chemicals. Or sunburn. Or mechanical injury.

While our skin barrier does work to protect against such external assaults, its most important task by far is to protect us from a terrible threat coming from the inside.  This hazard of all hazards, peril beyond measure, is the escape of our precious body water.

Let us go back many eons in time and imagine that first fish as it attempted to venture out onto land. Bear in mind that most creatures and most cells are about 80% water. How could our fish retain its body water, as it left its wet surroundings to live on dry land? How could it keep the water in its cells from evaporating away into the dessicating air? This new world was a hostile one that threatened to turn our fish explorer from a plum into a prune? This newcomer to land needed some type of ‘permeability barrier’; it needed some form of waterproofing. Biologists call the outer protective covering of plants and animals, their ‘integument’; we call ours ‘skin’.  In every species, whether plant or animal, the most critical function of the integument (including our skin) is to protect against loss of body water.  Our skin barrier’s number one task is to hold our body water inside.  [Read more…] about What Is The Skin Barrier, And Why Does It Matter?

Scaly Skin and The Barrier

April 16, 2013 By Mary L Williams, M.D. 1 Comment

ARCI 550 (1)

In another post, we consider how a group of inherited skin conditions in which most or all of the body is covered with scales have helped us to understand the how skin sheds its outermost cells. Because visible scales are such a prominent feature, it is not surprising that this family of skin disorders, called ichthyosis, have taught us a great deal about the process of desquamation. But it was not anticipated that they could also teach us about the permeability barrier – that is, skin’s ability to prevent the outward escape of our precious body water. [Read more…] about Scaly Skin and The Barrier

About Dry Skin

February 7, 2013 By Mary L Williams, M.D. 1 Comment

mud flat

Almost any one may experience may experience dry skin (or ‘xerosis’) at some point in time. For example, one’s skin can feel a bit dry when the relative humidity remains low for weeks on end, as it does in our indoor heated climate during the long winter months in places like Chicago or Winnipeg, or if one soaks in a hot bath too often or too long.  Then too, almost everyone’s skin will dry out somewhat as they age. And our skin often may feel a bit dry, if we are among the many adults who take statins to control blood cholesterol levels. [Read more…] about About Dry Skin

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Image: "Taking Good Care of Your Skin" Special Report by Peter M. Elias, M.D. and Mary L. Williams, M.D.

This booklet offers up-to-date scientific information on how the skin works to keep us healthy and what we can do to keep our skin healthy and beautiful.

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INSIDE THE SKIN BARRIER

The Skin Microbiome: Good Bugs And The Bugs That Bug Us

January 7, 2020 By Peter M. Elias, M.D.

We hear a lot about the multitude and diversity the micro-organisms – especially the bacteria - that … Read More...

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SKIN DISORDERS

Dry Skin: Who Is At Risk and What Can Be Done About It?

December 1, 2019 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. Leave a Comment

Who is at risk? Many people are prone to develop dry skin. Examples include those who have or … Read More...

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REPAIRING THE SKIN BARRIER

The How and Why of Sensitive Skin

November 1, 2018 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. 1 Comment

An alarming percentage (about 60%) of normal adults, mostly women, self-report that they regularly … Read More...

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CLIMATE AND THE SKIN

The Skin’s Many Barriers and Climate Change

October 9, 2020 By Mary L Williams, M.D.

Skin's Many Barriers And How Climate Change May Affect Them Skin has many barriers: it keeps us … Read More...

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Q & A

Q& A: Preventing Dry Skin From COVID-19 Hand Washing And Toxic Hand Sanitizers

December 1, 2020 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. & Mary L. Williams, M.D. Leave a Comment

Q: I have developed dry skin from COVID-19 because I have to wash my hands so often. Hand sanitizers … Read More...

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Research: From The Elias Lab

Top 5 Scientific Discoveries About Skin Of The Decade

December 26, 2019 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. & Mary L. Williams, M.D. Leave a Comment

We have learned a lot about skin and its permeability barrier in recent years.  Here are our … Read More...

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Research: From Labs Around the World

Top 5 Scientific Discoveries About Skin Of The Decade

December 26, 2019 By Peter M. Elias, M.D. & Mary L. Williams, M.D. Leave a Comment

We have learned a lot about skin and its permeability barrier in recent years.  Here are our … Read More...

MORE FROM RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD >>

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