We know that sometimes our skin chat can be a little complex with use of jargon. As much as we try to simplify things, it can be difficult to not use specific terms. So, we're going to share some common words used when we're talking about skin and its function and share with you exactly what each means.
Acid Mantle - you may have heard people refer to the skin's barrier. This is the acid mantle. The acid mantle is a thin acidic coating on the skin's surface. The acid mantle's job is to keep bacteria and debris out and moisture in.
Collagen - accounting for 30% of your body's protein, collagen is what gives our skin it's suppleness and strength. Alongside elastin, collagen gives our skin its structure. Collagen is the primary building block of your body’s skin, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues.
Dermis - the middle layer of the skin and the one below the epidermis. The dermis is the thickest layer of your skin and contains blood capillaries, nerve endings, oil and sweat glands, hair follicles and other structures. The dermis contains collagen and elastin which is what enables it to be so supportive of your skins overall structure.
Elastin - like collagen, elastin is also a protein found in our bodies. Elastin is what gives our skin its bounce and stretch. Elastin is what is responsible for our skin following the contours of our body and not just hanging there.
Epidermis - the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis protects our bodies. Varying in thickness depending on where on the body it is located, the epidermis provides a protective barrier against UV radiation, chemicals, and microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It is also the responsibility of the epidermis to keep the skin hydrated.
Free Radicals - linked to ageing, simply put, free radicals are unstable atoms that break cells down over time.
Hyperpigmentation - caused by an overproduction of melanin in a particular area of the body, hyperpigmentation can present in conditions such as age/sun spots.
Hypopigmentation - caused by a loss of melanin/pigment in the skin, hypopigmentation often presents as white patches on the skin.
Keratinocyte Cell - when referencing keratinocyte cells in the skin they are considered to be the mother cells as it is these cells that split, to produce new 'baby' cells. These cells make up roughly 90% of the epidermis.
Lymphatic System - the system that helps eliminate toxins from the body, the lymphatic system is a system of lymph vessels that transport lymph towards your heart.
Melanin - giving our skin, eyes and hair colour, melanin is what makes some of us darker skinned than others. The more melanin you produce, the darker your eyes, hair and skin will be. The amount of melanin in your body depends on a few different factors, including genetics and how much sun exposure your ancestral population had. An increase in melanin can cause hyperpigmentation.
Melanocytes - found in the deepest layer of the epidermis (the basal layer), melanocytes produce melanin, a pigment that gives our skin, eyes and hair their colour.
Sebaceous Gland - producing sebum within each pore, sebaceous glands can clog if the skin is not cleansed regularly. Sebaceous glands are different to sweat glands. Sebaceous glands produce sebum (an oily substance) whereas sweat glands produce a watery substance known as sweat.
Sebum - produced by sebaceous glands, sebum is an oily substance made up of lipids such as triglycerides and squalene. Sebum is what makes us waterproof and lubricates our skin. Sebum forms part of our acid mantle, our skin's barrier.
Stratum Corneum - the very top layer of your skin, the stratum corneum is the layer of the skin you can touch and feel and forms the upper most layer of the epidermis.
Subcutaneous Layer - also know as the hypodermis, the subcutaneous layer is the inner most layer of your skin.
UVA - longer than UVB rays, UVA are sun rays that can damage the skin at a much deeper level. UVA rays can penetrate through clouds and windows to reach our skin. The rays can penetrate to the lower levels of the epidermis where they trigger melanocytes to produce more melanin. This causes our skin to tan. It is UVA rays that are closely associated with premature ageing of the skin.
UVB - shorter than UVA rays, UVB rays are those that cause sunburn and are closely associated with skin cancer. UVB rays are more predominantly associated with sunshine and summer weather.
Feel free to add any we've missed in the comments of this post and we'll get them added.
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