What is Skin?
Skin is the largest organ of the human body and serves as a protective barrier between the internal organs and the external environment.
It consists of multiple layers and has various functions, including regulating body temperature, sensation, protection against pathogens, and synthesis of vitamin D.
The skin also plays a role in maintaining fluid balance and contributes to the overall appearance of an individual.
What is the Basic Structure of The Skin?
Skin is made up of three main layers: the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue.
The outermost layer is called the epidermis, which is thin and acts as a protective barrier. It contains cells called keratinocytes that produce a protein called keratin, giving the skin its strength and waterproof properties.
Below the epidermis is the dermis, a thicker layer that contains blood vessels, hair follicles, and sweat glands. It provides support and nourishment to the epidermis. The dermis also contains sensory receptors that allow us to feel sensations like touch, pressure, and pain.
Deeper still is the subcutaneous tissue, which is mostly made up of fat cells. It acts as an insulator, helping to regulate body temperature and providing cushioning and protection to the organs and structures underneath.
Together, these layers form the basic structure of the skin, providing protection, sensation, and support to the body.
What is the Epidermis?
The outer layer of our skin is called the epidermis. This layer is made of old, dead skin cells that we constantly shed and replace with new ones from deeper layers.
Why do I care about dead skin?
As we age our skin doesn’t shed as effectively as it did when we were younger. This means that we have more dead skin sitting on the surface of our epidermis causing our skin to look dull, blotchy, and the texture isn’t as soft. It feels dry.
What can I do about dead skin?
There are many ways to get rid of old dead skin. We call it “improving cellular turnover”. Improving cellular turnover is great for the appearance of your skin as well as the texture and it helps combat the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels help improve cellular turnover by removing dead skin without manual manipulation.
The epidermis also has other types of cells, like melanocytes, which give our skin its color by producing a pigment called melanin. It’s what makes people have different skin tones. There are also special cells called Langerhans cells that help our immune system to fight off harmful things that might try to enter our body through the skin.
In simple terms, the epidermis is the outer layer of our skin, made up of cells that produce a tough protein and give us our skin color. It protects us from the outside world and helps our body stay healthy.
