Everybody wants healthy skin, but achieving that goal isn’t easy. Sure, there’s plenty of advice out there telling you what you should and shouldn’t be doing for your skin, but not all of that knowledge is trustworthy. The only way for you to know exactly what your skin needs is to have some understanding of its inner workings…
Read on as we explain the science behind healthy skin, along with tips on how you can achieve a bright, smooth, and radiant complexion.
Understanding Your Skin’s Anatomy
Let’s begin with the basics; your skin’s anatomy. It’s easy to think of the skin as a single layer, but this is far from the case. Instead, your skin consists of three main layers, each one made up of millions of cells:
Epidermis – this is the outer layer of your skin. On the outermost layer of your epidermis lies your stratum corneum, a waterproof barrier that consists of dead skin cells and fatty lipids.
Dermis – this is the middle layer of skin, and it also happens to be the thickest layer. This is the layer that holds your skin’s proteins, including collagen and elastin. These give your skin structure from within – think of the protein fibers like scaffolding, holding your skin up.
Hypodermis – also referred to as the sub cutis, the hypodermis is primarily made up of fat cells. This is the layer that absorbs shock to protect the body from injury. It’s also the layer that keeps the body insulated.
What Does the Skin Actually Do?
We’ve already mentioned how the hypodermis absorbs shock and insulates the body, both of which are extremely vital roles.
However, the skin also serves as an all-important barrier against other forms of harm too. From UV rays to pathogens to chemicals, healthy skin will ensure that the rest of the body stays healthy too.
Of course, the skin also acts as a sensory organ too – it detects touch and temperature. At the same time, it alsosynthesizes vitamin D.
It’s the body’s largest organ and it’s an important one, making it essential to understand the foundations beneath healthy skin.
Healthy Skin is Well-Moisturized
One of the main components of healthy skin is moisture. This is why the skin has been designed to self-moisturize. The cells in the stratum corneum contain a mix of salts and amino acids that are known as NMF, or Natural Moisturizing Factor. They soak up water to keep the skin hydrated.
Meanwhile, the skin’s sebaceous glands also periodically release sebum onto the surface of the skin. This is the skin’s natural oil. It keeps the skin lubricated while also helping to prevent deeper moisture from evaporating into the air.
Unfortunately, there are so many things that can throw sebum production off balance. From hormones to stress to diet, it’s all too easy for the skin to start producing too much, or too little, oil.
