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18 | YOU AT YOUR BEST | nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST JULY - ThE 5 SEnSES | SATURdAY, JUnE 24, 2017 In Touch with Your Skin What it can reveal about your overall health Special to NWa Democrat-Gazette Your skin is your body's largest organ, covering some 22 square feet and weighing in at about eight pounds. Each square inch of skin contains millions of nerves that allow you feel touch, pain and pressure. "Your skin serves many life-sustaining functions, including protecting you from the outside world and maintaining your body temperature," says Steven F. Spencer, M.D., of Washington Regional's Har-Ber Family Clinic in Springdale. "Your skin works hard for you, and through the years it may go through a lot of changes that are a normal part of the aging process. However, some changes can signal health problems. It is important to know what is normal and what is not." Normal signs of aging As you age, your skin becomes thinner and more brittle, losing strength and elasticity. Because the skin produces less oil, it becomes drier, leading to wrinkles and tiny lines. "You may notice new skin growths or pigment spots, especially in sun-exposed areas," Dr. Spencer says. "Tiny blood vessels in the skin become more fragile, so you may experience bruising or bleeding under the skin. These kinds of changes are normal." Warning signs However, Dr. Spencer says, unexplained skin changes sometimes can be a sign of illness. He advises his patients to be on the lookout for skin changes or worrisome moles that might be a sign of skin cancer, as described in this "AB- CDE" list published by the National Cancer Institute: Asymmetry — The shape of one half does not match the other half. Border that is irregular — The edges are often ragged, notched or blurred in outline. The pigment may spread into the surrounding skin. Color that is uneven — Shades of black, brown and tan may be present. Areas of white, gray, red, pink or blue also may be seen. Diameter — There is a change in size, usually an increase. Melanomas can be tiny, but most are larger than 1⁄4-inch wide. Evolving — The mole has changed over the past few weeks or months. Unusual skin changes also can signal other kinds of health problems. "Sometimes, changes in the color or texture of your skin can be a sign of in- ternal disease," Dr. Spencer says. "For example, yellowing of the skin might indicate liver disease, and darkening of skin creases or scars could be a sign of problems with the adrenal glands." Also, a rash that does not respond to treat- ment or is accompanied by fever, joint pain, muscle aches or other symptoms could indicate an internal problem or infection. "Get to know your skin and learn what is normal for you," Dr. Spencer says. "Examine your skin regularly and call your doctor if you notice anything suspicious." The sense of touch is the fi rst sense to de- velop in humans, occurring about eight weeks into the gestation period. It is controlled by a large network of nerve endings and touch receptors in the skin. This system is respon- sible for our sensations of cold, hot, smooth, rough, pressure, pain, vibrations, and more. The nervous system helps these sensations reach the brain by passing information along through neurons, ultimately sending a mes- sage to the brain about what you are touching. Our sense of touch also affects our sense of taste, whether it be the burn from a hot pepper or the coolness of mint. The sensa- tions from these are not created from taste buds — taste buds are responsible for sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and umami (savory). The sensation of heat and cold are created from touch receptors. The benefi ts of human touch have been widely researched and with many different massage techniques, there's a multitude of ways to reap these benefi ts. Massage can help with anything from simple relaxation to more complex ailments. Some issues that have been shown to improve with massage include: Back Pain According to studies, massage has been shown to reduce the need for painkillers by 36 percent. Massage can help relieve tension that is associated with back pain. Osteoarthritis Massage helps improve symptoms of pain and stiffness, as well as improve function in those suffering from osteoarthritis. Headaches With 45 million Americans suffering from either headaches or chronic migraines, massage helps bring relief and ease the pain. Many headaches and migraines are a result of stress and tension. Massage helps maintain a level of relaxation that manages stress-relief. According to Gwen Heim, Regional De- veloper of LaVida Massage & Medspa of Fayetteville, "The skin is the largest organ in the body and is designed, amongst other things to experience touch. Massages have a huge impact, not just on our sore, tired mus- cles, but also our physical and mental health." Beyond the physical benefi ts, massage has also been shown to improve our mental health. "Studies have shown that a hug or a reas- suring touch a day can improve our mood, re- duce stress, increase circulation and of course we also feel more loved and appreciated as a result," added Heim. "Being touched also releases endorphins, which is the feel good hormone, and is also shown to be benefi cial to our health." LaVida Massage & Medspa, located at 745 E. Joyce Blvd., Suite No. 201, is a warm and welcoming 4,000 square foot facility with 13 treatment rooms. The facility features two couple's rooms, 10 individual massage treatment rooms, and two aesthetics/skin care rooms. The facility is located in the Nelson's Crossing Shopping Center, just south of the Mall. LaVida Mas- sage & Medspa has been open since Sep- tember 2008, serving the wellness needs of Northwest Arkansas. By SaraH HaNey NWa Democrat-Gazette Touch THE SENSE OF