Your skin is in fact your body's largest organ, and one of the most hardworking. This strong stuff comprises 20 square feet in most adults and weighs anywhere from six to ten pounds. It's washable, stretchable, tough and waterproof. And, it's much more complex than it appears on the surface! The Three Layers of Skin
If you were to study a sample of your skin, you would learn that it actually consists of three individual layers:
1. The Epidermis It is the surface of your skin and just the area that you touch, feel and see. The thickness of your epidermis depends on a number of factors, including your age, sex and the location on your body. For instance, the skin on the bottom of your foot can be up to 30 cell-layers thick, whereas the skin on your eyelids is tissue-thin. The underneath segment of the epidermis is called the basal layer. Basal cells in this layer are responsible for preserving the epidermis by constantly renovating the cell population. These cells comprise melanocytes which produce the melanin that provides skin with color. The uppermost layer or surface section is called the stratum corneum. This layer is no thicker than a sheet of fine paper, but it is what provides your skin with all of its barrier properties. The stratum corneum is consisted of flattened cells covered with humectants to remain them wet and supple and surrounded by special lipids to control moisture loss. The stratum corneum is also covered with a thin layer of sebum, a material which is concealed by the sebaceous glands. Sebum greases your skin and maintains it healthy looking. What the epidermis does: * Deflects damage from sun, dirt and bacteria.
* Helps regulate body temperature.
* Prevents moisture loss.
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