Have you ever stopped to think about your skin besides psoriasis? Here are the basics. Skin has 3 layers: the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. Read on to see what each does:
1. Epidermis: The outer layer of skin and what is visibly seen on the surface. The epidermis is the thinnest of the layers and ironically the main barrier of protection for the entire body. The thickness of the epidermis varies in different types of skin. It is the thinnest on the eyelids at .05 mm and the thickest on the palms and soles at 1.5 mm. The epidermis also contains the pigment melanin that gives skin its color.
There are 5 delicate ‘sheets’ or layers of cells that make up the entire epidermis. From bottom (most internal) to top (most external) the layers are named: stratum basal, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum licidum, and stratum corneum. Approximately every 27 days new skin is regenerated through a process of skin cell turnover. The bottom layer (stratum corneum) of the epidermis is where new skin cells originate. As cells are created they crowd and are pushed upward into the next higher layer. The cells move into the higher layers, and eventually they flatten and eventually die. As old, dead skin cells they reach the outer surface, then they slough off and are replaced by the upward moving cells below them. When you suffer from psoriasis, your cells turnover faster than they can be sloughed off.
2. Dermis: The middle layer underneath that supports the epidermis. The dermis is a complex matrix of blood vessels, hair follicles, and sebaceous (oil) glands. The dermis also contains elastic fibers known as elastin and protein fibers called collagen, and fibroblasts “glue like” cells that synthesize collagen and elastin together to form skin’s elasticity, support, and suppleness. The dermis is also the layer responsible for wrinkles. Collagen, the fountain of youth is the most abundant protein making up 75% of skin. Over time, environmental factors and aging deplete the body’s ability to produce collagen. Elastin, like the word elastic is the protein that works with collagen in the dermis, giving skin vital snap or spring allowing it to main firm structure. As with collagen, elastin diminishes in our skin over time causing skin to loosen and sag.
3. Hypodermis Tissue: The deepest layer containing fat and connective tissue containing larger blood vessels and nerves. This layer is important as it regulates the temperature of the skin itself and the body. The thickness of this layer varies throughout the body and from person to person.
And there you go… the basics of skin. Do you have psoriasis symptoms that make your skin feel out of control with redness, itchiness, and flaking? Leave a comment below and tell us how bad your skin gets.
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