Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy & Physiology:

 

 

The Skin:

The skin is the largest organ of the body.  The skin functions in a number of different ways to protect us from external elements:

  • Prevents the absorption of harmful substances
  • Helps regulate body temperature
  • Acts as a barrier to keep out infection
  • Melanin in the skin protects us from the harmful effects of UV light
  • Provides a waterproof coating that prevents us from becoming dehydrated
  • Provides an energy reserve in the form of stored fat

The skin covers the entire surface of the body and weighs approximately one ninth of our total body weight.  It is thinnest on the eyelids and thickest on the soles of the feet.  The skin is continually shedding and renewing itself.  We are able to feel sensations such as pain or heat because of sensors in the skin which transmit messages to the brain and outer skin plays a major role in maintaining body temperature and in protecting the body from harm

The skin varies in colour due to age, race inherited factors and external factors such as climate.  The skin can vary in thickness depending upon where it is on the body, i.e., eye and lip skin is very thin whereas hand and foot skin is thicker.  The thickness of the skin can affect its colour, for example thin skin will look more pink as the blood in subcutaneous tissue will show through, whereas thicker skin, such as on the soles of the feet, tends to look yellow.

There are also medical reasons for skin colour to change such as with rashes where the skin will be more red, heart or lung conditions which will turn the skin blue, or jaundice which will yellow the skin.

With age and sun damage the skin will lose some of its elasticity due to lack of collagen, at which time wrinkles will appear.  The skin secretes an oily substance known as ‘sebum’ which will help to maintain the skin’s suppleness, although there are no sebaceous glands on the palms of the hand or soles of the feet.

 The skin is made up of three layers called:

  • Epidermis
  • Dermis
  • Subcutaneous

 

Epidermis

 

The epidermis is the upper portion of the skin and consists of five layers: 

Cell regeneration occurs in the epidermis by the process of mitosis (cell division).  It takes approximately a month for a new cell to complete its journey from the basal cell layer where it is reproduced to the granular layer where it becomes keratinised, to the horny layer where it is desquamated.

Dermis

 

The dermis lies below the epidermis, and connects with the basal layer and is often described as the “true skin”.  It is responsible for the strength and elasticity of the skin.  It contains lots of specialised cells and structures, including nerves, blood vessels, glands and hair follicles.

It consists of two layers:

  • Papillary layer  

This is the upper section and contains small tubes called capillaries, which carry blood and lymph.  It also has nerve endings.  This layer provides nutrients for living layers of epidermis.  It contains a thin arrangement of collagen fibre.

  • Reticular layer  

 

Consists of two types of protein:

Elastin fibres which give the skin its elasticity

Collagen fibres which give the skin its strength

These fibres are held in a gel-like substance called ‘ground substance’. The collagen and elastin fibres form a strong network which gives us our youthful appearance.

As we age, these fibres in the skin begin to harden and fragment; the network starts to break down and our skin starts to lose its elasticity and show visible signs of ageing.  Blood circulation to the skin declines; nutrients do not reach the surface, resulting in sallow skin.  The fatty layer beneath the skin grows thinner so we look more drawn as our bone structure is more prominent.  The reticular layer is vital to our skin’s health and appearance and so it is essential that it is looked after in order to prevent signs of ageing.

Subcutaneous layer  
 
 

The subcutaneous layer is situated below the dermis.  It consists of adipose tissue (fat) and areolar tissue.  The adipose tissue helps to protect the body against injury and acts as an insulating layer against heat loss, helping to keep the body warm.  The areolar tissue contains elastic fibres, making this layer elastic and flexible.  Muscle is situated below the subcutaneous layer and is attached to bone.

Adipose Tissue

This is a loose connective tissue whose specific purpose is to store fat.  Adipose tissue is found under the skin and around organs, it acts as a food reserve.  As it is also a poor conductor of heat it assists in maintaining body temperature by preventing heat loss.

It is thought that massage affects the adipose tissue as it softens the hard fat under the skin and helps to disperse it.

The distribution of the fat layer under the skin varies according to sex, age and lifestyle.  Women tend to have a thicker layer of adipose tissue than men, giving the female form a softer outline.  Following the menopause, women tend to put on weight in the more masculine areas such as the waist and abdomen rather than the hips and thighs.

 

Skin Absorption

Topical absorption of substances through the skin depends on a number of factors, the most important of which are concentration, duration of contact, solubility of product, and physical condition of the skin.

Mesotherapy is not administered topically, but pushed into the epidermis by tiny micro injections resulting in 100% of the product reaching the dermis and having maximum effects.

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