Basic Skin
The skin is the body’s largest organ. It protects against heat, light, injury, and infection. It helps control body temperature, it makes vitamin D and stores water and fat. The skin reflects your general health and social behaviour. Situations which effect your health can have an important effect on your skin, for example ultraviolet sun exposure and cigarette smoking causes ageing and wrinkling of the skin with time.
The skin has three main layers:
Epidermis: The epidermis is the upper layer of the skin and it is mostly made of squamous cells. Under the squamous cells there are the basal cells. Melanocytes cells are located in the lower part of the epidermis and they make the skin´s pigments (color).
Dermis: The dermis is under the epidermis. It contains blood vessels, lymph vessels, and glands. Some of these glands make sweat, which helps cool the body. Other glands make sebum. Sweat and sebum reach the surface of the skin through tiny openings called pores.
Subcutaneous Fat: It is made mostly of fat and helps your body stay warm and absorb shocks.
The skin is a complex structure with many functions. So, it is important to know better your skin.
Next time we are talk about Fitzpatrick Skin Type.
Best wishes from Brazil,
Dr. Érica Monteiro
www.dermatologia.com.br
November 1st, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Hi Dr. Erica,
Hope you are well. I love the information on your site, it’s very helpful.
Please help me with my skin. I am turning 40, d=20.5 s=42 p=35.5 and t=35. with a disposition to acne from sensitizing ingredients mentioned in Leslie’s book. I have olive skin and black hair and from India.
Would you please recommend a good body oil after bath? I usually look for products that are not overly expensive, so if your recommendation is costly, please recommend another cheaper one with it that I can use when the expensive one is not on sale.
Body oils puzzle me because I don’t know what’s good and what’s not-sometimes they have essential oils and sometimes not. I like something to soothe dry skin and also to anti-age as now we get a little wrinkly, no?
Also a question that is occupying my mind, I use simple skincare which includes retinol cream 2-3 times a month (laser hair keeps me from applying it more frequently) but use cod liver oil, vitamin e capsules and omega 3 oil. Will that help with my anti aging? I heard that using supplements internally could be good but don’t know if it’s true.
If you have any recommendations, please tell me.
I am looking forward to hearing your advice.
Have a nice day.
Sincerely,
Smita