The structure of the skin

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.