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Understanding your skin is hard. But in order to look after your skin and give it the care it deserves you need to learn the inside and out of your skin.

Skin is the body’s largest organ, It covers and protects each and every part of your body.

The secret of beautiful, healthy skin is to understand the way it works because it will help you treat it the right way. The skin is made up of two main layers, called the EPIDERMIS and the DERMIS

The Epidermis:

The epidermis is the top layer of your skin (the one you can actually see) It protects the body from invasion and infection and helps to seal in moisture. The epidermis forms several layers of living cells which are then formed into dead skin cells. The dead skin cells eventually flake away, which means that every new layer of skin is another chance to have a soft, glowing complexion. The epidermis is also responsible for your colouring, because it holds the skins pigment.

The Dermis:

The dermis is the layer that is underneath the epidermis. This layer is made entirely of living cells. It has layers of bundles of tough fibre, which gives your skin it elasticity, firmness and strength. There are also blood vessels, which feed vital nutrients to these areas.

The dermis is usually able to repair and restore itself as good as new but it will be permanently damaged by injury. The dermis also has several important glands within it such as:

anatomy_skinSebaceous Glands: These produce that annoying oily secretion, also called sebum. This is your skins natural lubricant. Sebaceous glands are mainly on the scalp and face, around the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead (also called the T-Zone)

Sweat Glands: There are millions of these and they are found all over your body. Sweat glands control and regulate your body temperature. When sweat evaporates on the skins surface, the temperature of your skin drops.

Hairs: These grow out of the hair follicles, these can help to keep your body warm by trapping air underneath them, they also give your skin protection. There are no hairs on the soles of your feet or the palms of your hands.

Other cool facts:

  1. Skin is a barometer of your emotions. It becomes red when you are embarrassed and quickly shows the signs of stress.
  2. Your skin can cleanse, heal and even renew itself. How effectively it does these things is partly governed by you.

  3. Your skin is a sensor of pain, touch and temperature, offering protection and a means of eliminating waste.

  4. The condition of your skin is an overall sign of your health. It reveals stress, a poor diet and a lack of sleep. Taking care of your health will benefit your skin.