SKIN CARE BASICS
Before getting into the specifics of skin care, it's a good idea to understand the skin
itself. The skin is made up of three main layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the
hypodermis. The hypodermis is the deepest layer and contains a layer of fat. It also
houses the larger blood vessels and nerves.
The dermis contains the smaller blood vessels and nerves as well as the hair shafts and the
sebaceous glands. The sebaceous glands produce sebum, an oily substance that it secretes
into the hair shaft. Sebum makes its way up to the top of the skin through the hair shaft,
where it covers the outer layer of the epidermis thereby providing a protective barrier for
the skin from exterior dangers. A small coating of sebum will protect the skin effectively.
An excess of sebum leads to overly oily skin and can cause acne.
Within the epidermis are multiple sub layers. It's not necessary to get into the intricate
details here; suffice it to say that cells are created at the bottom level and constantly
migrate to the top where they fall off the body. This upward cell movement helps defend the
skin from harmful invaders by acting like ocean currents, moving foreign debris up and out
of the skin. When talking about basic skin care, we are mostly focused on the epidermis.
As for caring for the skin, everybody learns to walk before they run. Everybody has a solid
idea of basic math before they are put in an algebra class- and yet many people attempt to
launch into a sophisticated skin care program before they have learned the basics in skin
care. In fact, without knowledge of the foundation or first steps of skin care, your program
is likely to be ineffective or even harmful to you. Below you will find many articles which
cover the basic knowledge you will need to embark on an effective and safe skin care program.
