Touch

The sense of touch allows one to feel light sensations such as a bug landing on the skin or heavier sensations such as a hot object on your skin. It is normally through the skin which is the largest organ in the body.

Anatomy of the Skin

The skin is usually about 5mm thick and is the only protection to the inside of the body against the harsh environment around us.

The outermost layer of the skin is the epidermis which is waterproof and made up of dead cells. The cells on the skin surface are dead because cells on the lower part of the epidermis are continuously multiplying and pushing cells upwards as more are made. As the cells climb to the surface, they gradually become filled with a tough, fibrous substance called keratin.

The next layer is the dermis which contains blood vessels, nerves, hair roots, oil glands and sweat glands. It is thicker than the epidermis because of this reason.

Other than allowing us to have a sense of touch, the other purposes for the skin are:

• Keeping water in our bodies from drying up,
• Protect against the environment, keeping out such things as bacteria,
• Regulate the temperature of the body

How the Sense of Touch Works

The sense of touch comes from millions of microscopic sensory receptors located on the skin. In places when the receptors are close together like the fingertips, the skin is more sensitive.

When the skin receptors are stimulated, they generate nerve signals that flash the brain. The brain then figures out the overall picture of what has been sent and sends the adequate reaction to the body. The receptors of touch fall into three main groups:

• Cold and heat receptors that respond to temperature changes,
• Touch and pressure receptors that detect movement or pressure,
• Pain receptors detect many kinds of stimuli

Conditions that Affect the Sense of Touch

The skin is the first defense against disease in our bodies so it is important to protect it. Any condition that affects your skin will either make it more sensitive or less sensitive to touch.

Conditions that irritate, clog or inflame your skin can cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, burning and itching. Allergies, irritants, dermatitis, hives and even genetic factors can cause your sense of touch to decrease or become hypersensitive.

Most of these conditions are related to hygiene. Miracles for Men recommend keeping good hygiene and also avoiding puncturing the skin.

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