Did you know that your skin is your body’s largest organ?
It serves many different roles and purposes, the most important being to protect your body from external threats such as bacteria, chemicals, foreign objects, dirt and UV rays from the sun.
The nerves in your skin also give your brain important information about things you come into contact with. Is an object hot, cold, soft, hard, blunt or sharp? The information gathered by your skin can quite literally be lifesaving.
And that’s not all. Your skin plays a key role in regulating your body temperature and helping to prevent excess fluid loss. It’s also an important part of your body’s defence against infection and helps to protect the tissues and structures beneath it.
With so much work to do, your skin deserves care and attention throughout your life.
Understanding the structure of your skin
You might find it helpful to understand more about the structure of healthy skin and why each element is important.
The skin itself has two main layers, the epidermis and dermis, with a layer of subcutaneous tissue beneath:
- The epidermis is the outermost layer. It helps to create our skin tone and acts as the first line of defence between the body and the outside world.
- The middle layer is the dermis, which contains connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, sebaceous (oil) glands and sweat glands. These all have important roles within the skin.
The thickness of the dermis varies depending on where it is on your body. The skin around your eyelids, for example, is much thinner and more delicate than the skin on areas such as your back.
You’ve probably heard of collagen and elastin. These are important proteins within the dermis that provide structure, strength and elasticity. As we age, our bodies naturally produce less collagen and elastin, while factors such as exposure to UV rays can contribute to their breakdown. These changes are among the reasons skin can gradually develop lines, wrinkles and a loss of firmness.
The tissue fibres in the dermis are surrounded by a gel-like substance containing hyaluronic acid, which attracts and retains water. Hyaluronic acid is also widely used in aesthetic treatments, including dermal fillers and Profhilo.
- Beneath the dermis is the hypodermis, or subcutaneous layer, which is made largely from fat and connective tissue. It helps to insulate and cushion the body and connects the skin to the structures beneath it.
Within the epidermis
There are several important sub-layers within the epidermis, each with a role to play in maintaining the skin barrier.
Let’s have a look from top to bottom.
A. The stratum corneum is the uppermost surface of your skin and the first barrier between the inner workings of your body and the outside world. It is composed mainly of a protein called keratin and lipids (fats), as well as closely packed dead skin cells.
This layer plays a vital role in maintaining the skin barrier and preventing excessive water loss.
B. The stratum granulosum sits underneath. There’s a lot of activity in this layer as keratin proteins and lipids help to form the skin’s protective barrier.
C. Beneath this comes the stratum spinosum, sometimes called the squamous cell layer. Cells within this layer produce keratin, the fibrous protein that helps give skin, hair and nails their strength.
D. Finally, there is the stratum basale, where new skin cells are produced. It contains a single row of cells including basal keratinocytes, which divide and eventually move upwards through the layers of the epidermis.
Melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin or skin pigment, are also found in this layer.
Did you know that your palms and soles of your feet have an extra layer to the epidermis?
The skin on the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet has a lot of work to do, which is why these areas have an extra layer within the epidermis called the stratum lucidum.
In Latin, stratum lucidum means “clear layer”, referring to the transparent appearance of this layer. It sits between the stratum corneum and stratum granulosum and is found in areas of thick skin exposed to greater friction.
What does healthy skin look like?
As we can see, the skin is a complex structure, with different elements working together to provide an effective protective barrier.
But how do you know if your skin is healthy? And what does healthy skin actually look like?
We live in a world where we’re bombarded with images of people with apparently flawless complexions, often helped by careful lighting, filters and digital enhancement. You may be worried that your unique birthmarks, freckles, pores or blemishes mean your skin isn’t in tip-top condition.
In fact, very few people have “perfect” skin.
Real skin has texture, pores and variations in tone, and many of us experience pigmentation, blemishes or redness from time to time.
Healthy skin should generally feel comfortable rather than persistently tight, sore or irritated. It should also have an effective barrier that helps it retain moisture and protect itself from the outside environment.
What healthy skin looks like will vary from person to person. The aim isn’t necessarily to achieve a flawless, uniform complexion, but to care for your skin and become familiar with what is normal for you.
Supporting your skin health
There are some simple things you can do to support your skin throughout your life:
Stay well hydrated
Drinking enough fluid is important for your overall health, including the normal functioning of your skin.
However, drinking extra water won’t necessarily transform dry or dehydrated-looking skin. The condition of your skin barrier, your skincare routine, your environment and other factors can all affect how hydrated your skin looks and feels.
Wear sunscreen every day
Exposure to UV radiation can contribute to pigmentation and the breakdown of collagen and elastin, leading to visible signs of premature skin ageing.
Using broad-spectrum sunscreen regularly is one of the most important things you can do to protect your skin from UV damage and help preserve its appearance as you age.
Exfoliate with care
Dead skin cells naturally accumulate on the surface before being shed. In some cases, appropriate exfoliation can help remove this build-up and leave the skin looking smoother and brighter.
More exfoliation isn’t necessarily better, however. Over-exfoliating or combining too many active skincare products can leave skin feeling dry, sensitive or irritated.
The right approach will depend on your individual skin and the other products you use.
Eat a balanced diet
Like the rest of your body, your skin needs a wide range of nutrients. Eating a varied, balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, alongside adequate protein and healthy fats, can help provide the nutrients your body needs to maintain normal skin.
Don’t smoke
Smoking can have a noticeable effect on the appearance of your skin. It is associated with premature skin ageing and can contribute to the development of lines, wrinkles and changes in skin tone and texture.
Stopping smoking has benefits throughout the body and can help to reduce one of the environmental factors associated with accelerated skin ageing.
Pay attention to changes in your skin
Your skin can change for all sorts of reasons, including the weather, ageing, hormonal changes and the products you use.
If your skin suddenly feels unusually tight, dry, sensitive or oily, consider whether you have recently changed your skincare routine or introduced new active ingredients. Sometimes simplifying your routine can help if your skin has become irritated.
Persistent or unexplained symptoms should be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional.
Get to know your skin’s texture
Thanks in part to filters and digital manipulation, you’d be forgiven for thinking that some people don’t actually have pores!
Look at anyone’s skin closely, however, and you’ll see pores, hair follicles, fine lines and tiny peaks and troughs. Texture is a normal feature of real skin.
What is more important is knowing what is normal for you. If you notice a new, persistent or concerning change to your skin, seek appropriate medical advice rather than relying on an aesthetic assessment.
Be aware of changes in colour
Your normal skin tone is unique to you and may naturally include freckles, birthmarks and areas of pigmentation.
Again, familiarity with your own skin is important. New or unexplained changes in colour, persistent redness or changes to an existing mole or pigmented area should be assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional.
Treatments for healthier-looking skin
Even when your skin is healthy, you may want to improve particular aspects of its appearance.
Perhaps your complexion is looking dull or tired, you’ve noticed changes in texture or firmness, or you simply want your skin to look fresher for a special event.
At Medikaur, we offer a range of aesthetic treatments designed to address different skin concerns.
For example, ZO Skin Health Red Carpet Peel can refresh dull-looking skin, while skin needling is designed to improve skin texture and the visible signs of ageing. Dermaplaning can create a smoother, fresher-looking complexion by removing dead surface skin cells and fine vellus hair.
For people concerned about changes in skin hydration and firmness, Profhilo is another option we can discuss.
There is no single treatment or skincare routine that is right for everybody. At your consultation, we’ll look at what you would like to improve and talk you through the options that are most appropriate for your skin and your aesthetic goals.
