You hear about skin protection and skin preservation and skin health all the time, but what do all these really mean? Where do all the lotions go? Where does all the damage happen? What do all these treatments actually treat? Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
The skin is our largest organ and all 20 square feet of it covers our entire body to protect it against harsh environmental elements, allows us to feel various textures, and regulates our body temperature. It is made up of layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis. It is also comprised of other parts that help if function properly, such as the sensory nerves, blood vessels, the hair, and other tissues.
- The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin that provides an efficient protective covering for the underlying living tissues. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of dead skin cells that you can see when you look at your skin, and is the layer of the epidermis that gets gradually sloughed off during exfoliation to reveal newer, smoother, and younger skin. This is also where your skin color is produced.
- The dermis is the middle layer of the skin and contains the collagen, elastic tissues, hair follicles, the oil glands, and sweat glands. Laser treatments that stimulate collagen production affect this layer, and so does laser hair removal, hyperhidrosis treatments, and even medium chemical peels.
- The hypodermis is the deepest layer of the skin and is made up of mostly connective tissues and fat deposits that make up the underlying structure of the skin.
For more information and tips on skin treatment, visit WebMD.com.
To know more about the skin and its function, or to schedule a personal appointment wit Dr. Ava Shamban, you may call us at 310-828-2282 for the Santa Monica office, or 310-843-915 for the Beverly Hills office