The science of your skin
We all talk about what type of skin we have: oily, dry, combination, and we all talk about what we do to our skin: cleans, exfoliate, moisturize, but what about what is our skin? What is skin? So much more than you might think! Skin is a marvel of engineering, physiology and technology, and quite possibly our most amazing resource.
Comprised of three layers, the dermis, epidermis and the hypodermis, skin plays a major roll in the overall well-being and health of your body. Skin is the largest organ and can account for up to 15% of our body weight. It protects us from heat and cold, provides a barrier to infection and bacteria, shelters our internal organs and aids in vitamin synthesis. It can be stretched, cleansed, scrubbed, burned, hydrated, dehydrated, caressed, moisturized, tanned, or pierced, and amazingly, it will continue to reproduce itself for as long as you are alive.
Our skin is a tough, elastic, and hard-working organ. One average, square inch of skin can contain over 19,000,000 skin cells, including: 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels, approximately 60,000 melanocytes and over one thousand nerve endings! As the first line of defense against a host of diseases and bacteria, skin is all too often taken for granted. Get to know the three layers of your skin and watch your skincare dollars go farther.
The epidermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin, visible to the naked eye. This layer of skin is comprised of densely packed skin cells and it is within this layer that new skin cells are born. At first, a baby skin cell is very round and plump. As these cells travel towards the skin’s surface, they flatten out and become densely packed together. This dense, tightly-compacted layer of dead skin is constantly shed and exfoliated; on average, we shed over 20,000 skin cells a day! As the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermal skin layer is most susceptible to acne, microbial attack, and UVB photo damage. The epidermis is also the layer of skin that shows extrinsic, or environmental aging, such as dark spots or fine lines. The epidermis is host to many specialized skin cells, most especially melanocytes. Melanocytes, which produce melanin, determine skin color and protect the skin against the effects of ultraviolet light.
The dermis. The second layer is the dermis. In this layer, we have: collagen and elastin, oil and sweat glands, nerve endings, and blood vessels. Collagen and elastin, the tissues that give the skin firmness and elasticity are key to young looking skin. Collagen is the skin’s natural cushioning and elastin allows the skin the stretch and move without tearing. With age, production of these two vitally important substances slows down, causing the skin to become thin, transparent and wrinkled. Also in this layer are the very busy oil and sweat glands. These glands work continuously to wick away oil and sweat from the skin, as well as help regulate body temperature. Nerve endings in this layer register any and all touch sensations, such as pain, heat, cold and even ticklishness! UVA rays will cause extensive damage to this layer of the skin, making a broad-spectrum sun block absolutely essential when spending time outside.
The hypodermis. The hypodermis, or basement membrane, is the third layer of the skin and connects the skin to muscle membranes. This highly elastic layer of skin contains many cushioning fat cells, which protect bones and internal organs from damage, as well as blood vessels and nerve endings. The hypodermis is also the layer where hair follicles are located, and where a hair begins its journey to the skin surface.
Comprised of three layers, the dermis, epidermis and the hypodermis, skin plays a major roll in the overall well-being and health of your body. Skin is the largest organ and can account for up to 15% of our body weight. It protects us from heat and cold, provides a barrier to infection and bacteria, shelters our internal organs and aids in vitamin synthesis. It can be stretched, cleansed, scrubbed, burned, hydrated, dehydrated, caressed, moisturized, tanned, or pierced, and amazingly, it will continue to reproduce itself for as long as you are alive.
Our skin is a tough, elastic, and hard-working organ. One average, square inch of skin can contain over 19,000,000 skin cells, including: 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels, approximately 60,000 melanocytes and over one thousand nerve endings! As the first line of defense against a host of diseases and bacteria, skin is all too often taken for granted. Get to know the three layers of your skin and watch your skincare dollars go farther.
The epidermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin, visible to the naked eye. This layer of skin is comprised of densely packed skin cells and it is within this layer that new skin cells are born. At first, a baby skin cell is very round and plump. As these cells travel towards the skin’s surface, they flatten out and become densely packed together. This dense, tightly-compacted layer of dead skin is constantly shed and exfoliated; on average, we shed over 20,000 skin cells a day! As the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermal skin layer is most susceptible to acne, microbial attack, and UVB photo damage. The epidermis is also the layer of skin that shows extrinsic, or environmental aging, such as dark spots or fine lines. The epidermis is host to many specialized skin cells, most especially melanocytes. Melanocytes, which produce melanin, determine skin color and protect the skin against the effects of ultraviolet light.
The dermis. The second layer is the dermis. In this layer, we have: collagen and elastin, oil and sweat glands, nerve endings, and blood vessels. Collagen and elastin, the tissues that give the skin firmness and elasticity are key to young looking skin. Collagen is the skin’s natural cushioning and elastin allows the skin the stretch and move without tearing. With age, production of these two vitally important substances slows down, causing the skin to become thin, transparent and wrinkled. Also in this layer are the very busy oil and sweat glands. These glands work continuously to wick away oil and sweat from the skin, as well as help regulate body temperature. Nerve endings in this layer register any and all touch sensations, such as pain, heat, cold and even ticklishness! UVA rays will cause extensive damage to this layer of the skin, making a broad-spectrum sun block absolutely essential when spending time outside.
The hypodermis. The hypodermis, or basement membrane, is the third layer of the skin and connects the skin to muscle membranes. This highly elastic layer of skin contains many cushioning fat cells, which protect bones and internal organs from damage, as well as blood vessels and nerve endings. The hypodermis is also the layer where hair follicles are located, and where a hair begins its journey to the skin surface.