Understanding Skin Structure Oxford
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Understanding Skin Structure
Understanding Skin Structure
Thefact that your skin makes up 15% of your body weight makes it the largest organin your body. In the average adult,this can be as much as twelve to even twenty square feet of skin. Skin is also seventy percent water so hydration is vitally important. Theskin comprises of three layers; these are the epidermis, the dermis and thehypodermis, which is also called subcutaneous tissue.
Theepidermis is the outside layer of skin and is your first barrier of defense between you and external elements. Between0.5 – 1 mm thick it comprises of three different types of cells - keratinocytes, melanocytes and Langerhans.
KeratinocytesKeratinocytesare the cells that produce the protein keratin and they are the principal cellsof the epidermis or outside layer of skin. When immature theydivide rapidly in the lower portion of the epidermis but as they mature, theyflatten out, lose water and move upwards towards the surface of your skin. The surface of your skin, known as the stratum corneum, consists mainlyof dead keratinocyte cells, hardened proteins and lipids, which together form aprotective crust. These dead cellscontinually fall off and newer ones coming up from further down replace them. Known as the renewal process this can take between 3-5 weeks, althoughexfoliating will speed up the process.
Melanocytes
Melanocytesare the cells that produce the pigment melanin; these cells are responsible forthe color and tone of your skin.
Langerhans
Langerhans are the cells responsible for protecting your skin from an invasion of unwanted foreign substances.
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Healthy Skin