HOW IS OUR SKIN MADE?

It is important to know how our skin is made up to understand what a cosmetic is for and choose the most suitable products. Our skin is mentally composed of three overlapping layers: hypodermis, dermis and epidermis.

The hypodermis is the deepest layer and is made up of adipocytes, cells of poses which have the task of synthesizing, yielding and absorbing lipids.

The dermis is instead the middle layer and represents a sort of scaffolding of the skin, since it contains the said fibroblasts which, under stimulation of hormones, produce collagen and elastin, proteins that confer resistance and elasticity to the skin. The activity of fibroblasts is reduced to starting from the age of 30, the age in which we begin to see the effects of aging.

The epidermis, on the other hand, is the most superficial layer of the skin and is made up of various layers of cells (the main ones being keratinocytes) which originate in the basal layer (a zone more internal) and that after ripening arrive on the surface in the form of thin squares destined to detach themselves in a continuous rhythm. The upper part of the epidermal epi is called the stratum corneum.

The cells of the epidermis firmly adhere to each other thanks to various substances that together form the hydro lipidic film, composed of a fat part (sebum) and an aqueous part called natural hydration factor. This film basically serves to keep the skin soft and hydrated, protect it from the action of external agents and regulate the flow of substances from outside to inside and vice versa. When we apply a cosmetic we act mainly on the surface layer of the skin trying to provide it with substances that improve its appearance.

Since the skin is an organ of protection and not of absorption, it is important not to alter the natural barrier action of the epidermis when we use detergents, creams or other cosmetic products.