Your Skin And The Sun

Layers of the Skin

The largest of the body’s organs, our skin both contains us and provides our first line of defence. It is both pliable and waterproof, acting as a nearly impermeable membrane, and it has an amazing ability to quickly repair itself. As your outermost organ, the skin is where your body meets the sun.

Layers of the skin

The skin consists of three main layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis.

The epidermis

The epidermis is outermost layer of the skin. It is thinner than the dermis and does not contain any blood vessels. It consists of several layers. The epidermis is remarkable for its amazing ability to constantly renew itself, and it contains the melanocytes, or special skin cells that form melanin, which is the body’s natural tanning pigment.

The dermis

Thicker than the epidermis and, in fact, comprising the bulk of the skin, the dermis is a strong, flexible connective tissue. It contains blood vessels, nerves, lymph vessels, hair follicles and oil and sweat glands. It consists of two distinct layers and prevents easy penetration of substances and punctures by objects that could compromise the body’s internal organs.

The hypodermis

The hypodermis is less a part of the skin itself than loose connective tissue that attaches the skin to the underlying organs. Its many important functions include anchoring the skin to muscles, allowing the skin to slide easily across underlying structures, insulating the body from extreme temperatures and physical trauma and storing energy in the form of fat.