Nina Roos finds Elia’s question interesting: knowing how skin is made helps you take better care of it throughout your life. To understand how it works, the dermatologist distinguishes between two periods: the one where it forms from the first weeks of embryonic life and after birth, once it is completed.
In utero
In the first weeks of life, the forming embryo will produce two types of tissue: ectoderm and mesoderm.
The ectoderm will eventually become the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. The mesoderm will differentiate into dermis and hypodermis. The dermatologist explains: “If we look at the skin in section, we find from top to bottom: the epidermis, which is a stack of cells; the dermis, a network of fibrous tissues and finally the hypodermis, a layer of fat intended to insulate our body and protect the muscles and bones.
And throughout our lives…
Our cells will renew themselves throughout our lives but they will not be produced in the same way.
At the level of the epidermisthe basal layer which is the deepest layer, is composed stem cells that are constantly renewing themselves. They will differentiate as they rise towards the surface to arrive at the outermost layer where dead cells accumulate. As a result, the cells of the epidermis rise from the bottom up until they desquamate, that is to say, they become detached invisibly.
The dermis is made up of elastic fibers,hyaluronic acid, molecule which guarantees hydration of the skin and collagen which ensures its elasticity and robustness. Made by cells called fibroplasts, they will renew them optimally for up to thirty years. From the age of 30, renewal is less effective, it is at this time that the skin begins to age.
To find the dermatologist’s advice and tips to fight against wrinkles, listen to the rest…
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