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The skin is the largest organ of the body and measures about 20 square feet and weighs generally between 7 and 9 pounds and is an absolute marvel of construction and the way it functions. Yet - as we grow older, and the skin is not properly cared for, it can show signs of premature aging.
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The skin consists of three layers, each with its own specialized role to play:
This is the deepest layer of the skin and is manufactured by specialist cells and is composed mainly of fat (also referred to as adipose tissue). The thickness of this layer varies from person to person and also from one body area to the next with very little around the spine and nose, but with more where curves are formed.
The hypodermis in women is thicker than in men, which helps to form the rounded curves in women.
This layer acts as insulation and protects the internal organs from temperature variations and also act as an energy reserve from which the body can draw as required.
This part of the skin is sandwiched on top of the hypodermis and the epidermis (the outermost part of the skin) and is a vitally important area of the skin since it is here where the fibroblast cells form the network of fibers of the skin - very much resembling the weft and warp of fabric - and for this reason it is also referred to as the connective tissue.
The connective tissue is mainly made-up of collagen and to a far lesser degree elastin, and blood circulates in this area through capillaries to bring nutrition and oxygen to the cells whilst removing waste products.
The dermis also contains the sensitive nerve endings, sweat glands, hair follicles and sebaceous glands (oil glands).
This section of the skin is the outermost part and contains no arteries, veins or capillaries but is fed from the dermis via lymph. At the deepest part of the epidermis you find the basal cells which produce all the cells of the epidermis. There is a constant generation of new cells, with the younger cells found at the deepest part, and the oldest on top.
The old cells undergo modification when pushed to the surface and contain no nucleus, are flattened and are charged with keratin, which then forms the horny layer of the skin. Keratin also makes up human nails and hair.
These horny cells are not just old and charged with keratin, but are in actual fact dead cells, which eventually detach themselves and shed. These cells are arranged in an overlapping fashion and are the first line of defense for any substance trying to enter the body.
Melanin, which is the pigmentation (color) of the skin is also manufactured in the basal layer of the epidermis.
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