Understanding and caring for your skin

Your skin is made up of three layers, each with its own important job to do. The layer on the outside – including the bit you can see – is called the epidermis.

Although you can’t see it or feel it happening, your epidermis is working hard all the time, making new skin cells and sending them up towards the surface of your skin.

It takes a new skin cell two or three weeks to make this arduous journey and, by the time it reaches the surface, it’s dead. Yes, when you look at your skin, you’re looking at millions of dead cells!

The other 2 layers of skin

Underneath the epidermis are the dermis and the subcutaneous layer.

The dermis holds your hair follicles and the little muscles that make them stand up when you’re cold or scared. The dermis also contains oil and sweat glands, plus blood vessels and nerves that transmit sensations of pleasure, pain, itching and temperature.

The subcutaneous layer consists of fat and connective tissue that houses larger blood vessels and nerves. This layer regulates the temperature of your skin and body.

The average adult has 2 sq metres of skin. Each square cm contains about 10 hairs, 5 sebaceous (oil) glands and 1 metre of blood vessels!