How our skin is made: the skin structure

Fine leather is expensive because it is precious for our survival. Our skin has a highly complex structure despite its appearance and variation from person to person. Our skin deserves our attention and we should allocate time in each day to take care of it.

The structure of the skin: multi-layered, fascinating and complex

As we look at the layers of the skin from the outside to the inside we find three important layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis.

THE EPEPIDERMIS. The epidermis is in turn composed of various overlapping cell layers, which, moving from outside to inside are shiny, granular, thorny, basal and germinative. These layers undergo a continuous process of renewal and regeneration. Turnover is faster when we are young. This renewal process also occurs at night beginning at the deepest basal layer and moving up to the surface to be shed (or exfoliated) in a cycle lasts about 28 days
THE DERMIS. The dermis is a connective layer formed by a sort of thick gel, called fundamental substance or extra-cellular matrix, in which elastic fibers and collagen, blood and lymphatic vessels, nerve endings, sweat and sebaceous glands are immersed.
THE HYPODERMIS. The hypodermis is the deepest skin layer and is composed mainly of adipose tissue (fat), where most of the body’s fat reserves accumulate (so-called subcutaneous fat not to be confused with visceral fat that accumulates on the abdomen and is associated with a high cardiovascular risk).

The skin is the largest organ we have, but above all it is a powerful shield for our bodies.

The natural pH of the skin pH is the abbreviation that defines the degree of acidity of a substance. The conventional measurement scale ranges from 0 to 14:

From 1 to 6, the grade is acidic;
Around 7 is neutral;
7 to 14 is alkaline (basic)

The physiological pH of the skin has a variable value around 5.5-7, depending on the area of the body where it is measured and the different skin conditions. If the pH changes the skin becomes more vulnerable.

When the skin balance is altered

Adverse weather and environmental conditions, unhealthy lifestyles, prolonged stress, use of irritating cleaning and skin care, and pathological conditions can affect the skin. Our bodies can also change the barrier function of the skin, making it more fragile and vulnerable. In these cases, the superficial hydrolipidic film and its physiological pH can change, but also the cohesion capacity of the surface cells and the blood supply at the level of the dermis can change: all factors that compromise the natural balance of the skin. Each person’s skin type is different but everyone can benefit from implementing an effective skin maintenence strategy to keep skin healthy and resistant for as long as possible and keep their skin from aging prematurely.