The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It has several layers including an outer layer of dead skin cells, an inner layer with blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles and glands, and a deeper fatty layer.
Skin plays a vital role in:
·  Temperature regulation – pores in the skin open and close to regulate movement of gases and sweat across the skin.
·   Insulation – the fatty skin layer helps insulate the body.
·   Sense of touch – skin receptors send messages to our brain in response to stimuli.
·  Protection – providing a barrier to foreign substances and physical protection for delicate internal organs.
·  Production of vitamin D – one of the essential vitamins.

When you remove dirt, oil, bacteria and dead skin cells from the skins surface, your skin can perform all of these functions more easily. Special attention is needed for areas where dirt, bodily secretions and moisture can accumulate: behind the ears, in the belly button, under the arms, in the genital areas and between the toes. These can become breeding grounds for bacteria and fungi.

Skin hygiene – How to make this happen

Bathing and showering with quality personal care products removes build-up on the skin surface. There are many varieties of cleansers. After washing, moisturising lotions and creams can help maintain the integrity of the skin surface by keeping it supple and smooth.
There are many varieties of skincare lotions and oils, including some with sun protection properties. If you will be spending time outside, you should consider the regular use of sunscreen products regardless of your skin type. Sunscreens work by filtering or blocking ultraviolet radiation (UV) and are available in many varieties that include:

·       A range of sun protection factors (SPFs), with a higher SPF indicating a greater degree of sun protection.
·       Broad spectrum, which acts against the effects of both long and short UV wavelengths: UVA that penetrates deep into the skin causing unseen damage, and UVB that affects the skin surface and is visible as burning.
·       Water resistant, good for use at the beach or pool.

Regular exfoliation can also help remove dirt and dead skin cells from the skin's surface, helping to keep pores open.
A small percentage of people can experience skin allergies to some ingredients in personal care products. If you are trying a new product and want to check for your skin’s response, do a “patch test”: place a small amount of product on the inside of your wrist or arm and watch for any redness or irritation over the next 24 hours. This applies not only to products designed specifically to care for the skin, but also to other personal care and cosmetic products that contact the skin.
 

Can you be allergic to spray tans?Your skin can be really sensitive to anything you put on it, especially certain chemicals. Certain chemicals can cause an allergic reaction which could lead to illness. It's always good to try new things though and see what works for you, such as a spray tan. Yet be mindful that your body can reject the chemicals and that could lead to an allergic reaction.
You can be allergic to the ingredients found in common spray tan materials!Your body can react negatively to things that you never thought of and can cause quite a bit of pain. Spray tans are a common thing to get because of overexposure from the sun which can cause sunburn and increase your chance of skin cancer. For years, people have been trying to find new and safe ways to perfect the tanned look without having to go out in the sun. So, one obvious choice is the humble spray tan! Yet, you may be allergic to it and it could cause you pain and irritation. This can hopefully be avoided if you can figure out your body's reaction to the most common part of spray tans. Regular spray tanners solutions contain an ingredient called DHA. DHA stands for dihydroxyacetone which helps your skin turn darker over time, but is only temporary.
What is DHA according to the FDA?The FDA (Food and Drug Administration in America) states that most spray tans contain, "dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a colour additive that darkens the skin by reacting with amino acids in the skin's surface." Your skin can have an allergic reaction to this ingredient which causes irritation, redness, and inflammation. The skin that came in contact with the spray tan can also begin to form dermatitis. Dermatitis is when your skin begins to create a rash, is itchy, and can also blister. DHA is FDA approved which means that it has been tested and shown that it is okay to put on one's body but, that doesn't mean that everyone's skin can handle the chemicals found in the spray tan solution. Everybody's skin is different..
What to do if you have an allergic reaction to spray tans:If you have an allergic reaction to spray tans, you have to act fast to reduce swelling or itching of the area that is affected. One way to help your dermatitis or allergic reaction is to take a cool shower and rinse with little soap as soon as you notice the reaction starting to happen. You can also apply anti-itch/anti-inflammatory cream to the affected area to help the irritation and make it a little less painful for you during your body's way of rejecting the material.