Skin Care: An Introduction To Skin

By Admin On December 1, 2007 Under Skin Care

When we think of organs, what comes to mind is the heart, brain and lungs.  Many people are not aware that the skin is our body’s largest organ.   

The skin plays a vital role as it protects our body.  Can you imagine not having skin?  That’s a scary thought.  Our skin protects our internal body parts and keeps bodily fluids inside.  Another important function of our skin includes protection from external factors like the environment and bacteria.

The skin is made up of different layers.  We usually do not think about the other layers as we only see the epidermis, or the outer layer of the skin.  If you were to look at a cross-section of skin, you’d see that skin consists of 3 different layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis or subcutis layer. For us to understand our skin even better, it is important to know about the different layers.

Epidermis

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin.  This is what we see and touch.  The epidermis envelops our whole body, from the top of our head down to our feet.  There are 3 layers within the epidermis.  It is made up of closely woven connective tissues and its thickness differs throughout the body.  For instance, the skin in your feet is thicker compared to the skin below your eye. 

We constantly shed the top layer of the epidermis.  This layer is the one that works to keep the good in and the bad out.  It consists of thousands of pores and hair shafts.  If you try to take a close look at your skin, the naked eye will be able to see some, but not all, of these pores and hair shafts.  The bottom layer of the epidermis produces new skin that takes the place of the skin that has been shed. 

In terms of sun protection, the epidermis contains melanin, the cells that are responsible for skin pigmentation and protecting against harmful UV rays.

Dermis

The dermis is the layer that is made up of connective tissue and contains blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerve tissue, sweat glands and hair follicles.  There is a lot going on in the dermis.  It also contains capillaries and receptor sites for touch and pain.  The dermis also serves another important function – it traps bacteria that penetrated the epidermis. 

In the dermis, blood vessels supply nutrients while nerve tissues give the skin the ability to feel.  Do you remember goose bumps?  It is the muscle tissues in the dermis that allow us to get goose bumps when we feel scared or cold. 

Hypodermis (Subcutis)

The subcutis or hypodermis is the innermost layer of the skin.  It is made up of connective tissue commonly known as adipose tissue.  This layer helps control our body temperature.  This layer helps keep us warm through the fat and collagen that insulates the skin.  The subcutis also protects the body from injury, functioning as a shock absorber.