Your skin is the largest organ on your body, with a critical role of protecting it. While you may think you are well acquainted with your skin because you see it every day, the majority of your skin involves components that are unseen. Here’s a closer look at the three main layers of your skin:
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Epidermis
- This is the top layer of your skin, or the part that is visible. It is a thin layer that is in charge of regenerating new cells and giving your skin its color by making melanin. Perhaps the biggest role of the epidermis is to protect your body; it contains special immune building cells that fight off threats to your body’s health.
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Dermis
- The next layer of skin is thicker than the top layer. It has a number of responsibilities, including making sweat to keep your body cooled down, growing hair, making oil and delivering blood to the skin. The dermis also contains nerves that allow you to feel touch, temperature and other sensations on the skin.
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Subcutaneous Fat
- The deepest layer of skin stores fat. It also helps the skin attach to your bones and muscles as well as keeps your body at an optimal temperature. Without this padded bottom layer of skin, your bones wouldn’t have sufficient protection from external trauma or falls.
Want to learn more about your skin? With such important roles for your body, it is critical that you understand how to care for your skin best. At Olansky Dermatology, we are experts in skin health!
