Practicing good skin care habits is a must in order to enjoy healthy skin no matter what age you are. But if you were one of the students who didn’t pay attention during human biology, you may have missed one of the most important things to learn: how your skin works. Knowing how the skin functions can make you a skin care guru and help you better understand how various skin care products work with your skin.

Our skin is the largest organ of the human body and its functions are numerous. Besides protecting our skin, bones and muscles, our skin also reflects our internal health and changes over time. Age spots, fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging make our skin weak or vulnerable. Because of this, it’s our job to make sure that we treat our skin using the right products. It isn’t impossible to maintain healthy skin but in order to learn how to better protect our skin, it helps to know what it does.

The Epidermis

This is the layer of skin that you see and apply products to everyday. The epidermis tackles a variety of issues on a daily basis without taking a break. The most important responsibility the epidermis has is protecting the body from infection and invasions from bacteria and other germs. The skin is your body’s first line of defense. The epidermis is actually made up of several layers of active, living skin cells, which are topped by a layer of dead skin cells. Each day the skin grows, forcing dead skin cells to shed and fall off, to be replaced by newer, fresh skin cells. These new skin cells result in glowing, radiant skin. In skin care terms, this is referred to as cellular turnover. In addition to providing protection, the epidermis also seals in moisture and hydration, as well as providing the very pigments that make up the color of your skin.

The Dermis

Underneath the epidermis is the dermis. Unlike the epidermis, this layer is entirely made up of living skin cells. To provide a helping hand to its counterpart, the dermis contains bundles of fibers responsible for the skin’s firmness, strength and elasticity. Blood vessels can also be found in the dermis and deliver essential nutrients. The dermis also consists of an area called the lower dermis. This is where the sweat glands and sebum (oil) glands are found. The lower dermis moves along the process of eliminating waste from the skin in the form of sweat or other fluids that are secreted. Acting as a cushion, the lower dermis also helps regulate body temperature.

When it comes to dry, itchy, flaky or upset skin, chances are that there is something affecting the epidermis and/or dermis. When the natural skin barrier is broken, weakened or off-balance, this opens up the opportunity for infection and other unpleasant symptoms. Know which skin care products provide immediate relief to the epidermis and dermis, and only use the ones that are guaranteed to work with your skin, not against it. This skin care knowledge can aid you in making sure your skin always stays at its best.

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