The skin secretes a variety of substances, primarily sebum and sweat, which play crucial roles in maintaining skin health and overall body function.
Types of Skin Secretions
There are three main types of glands contributing to skin secretions:
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Sebaceous Glands: These glands produce sebum, an oily substance that lubricates the skin, prevents water loss, and has antimicrobial properties. Sebum is secreted through hair follicles. [Source: Sebaceous glands produce an oily substance called sebum and sweat glands produce a watery substance called sweat. Sweat glands have ducts, which are pathways to excrete substances to the surface of your skin. Sebaceous glands secrete sebum through your hair follicles and don't have ducts. 14-Dec-2022] [Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24538-sebaceous-glands] [Source: https://www.enhance-me-training.com/topic/the-functions-of-the-skin-7/]
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Sweat Glands (Eccrine and Apocrine): These glands produce sweat, a watery substance primarily composed of water, salts, and urea. Eccrine glands are distributed throughout the body and regulate body temperature through evaporation. Apocrine glands are located in specific areas (armpits, groin) and are involved in pheromone production. [Source: Human skin secretions are produced by three types of different glands: apocrine, eccrine, and sebaceous.][Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/skin-secretion] [Source: Skin secretions originate from glands that in dermal layer of the epidermis. Sweat, a physiological aid to body temperature regulation, is secreted by eccrine...][Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_secretions] [Source: Exocrine activity: This occurs by the release of water, urea, and ammonia. Skin secretes products like sebum, sweat, and pheromones and exerts important…][Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441980/]
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Other Secretions: The skin also secretes other substances, including pheromones, which are involved in chemical communication. [Source: Exocrine activity: This occurs by the release of water, urea, and ammonia. Skin secretes products like sebum, sweat, and pheromones and exerts important…][Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441980/]
The Importance of Skin Secretions
These secretions work together to maintain the skin's barrier function, regulate temperature, and protect against infection. Variations in the amount and composition of these secretions can influence skin type and conditions such as acne. [Source: Differences of skin type and pH between subjects with and without acne have not been investigated. In addition, the relationship between sebum secretion and…][Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16786345/]
