Below the Surface

The skin is described according to modern science as a combination of two layers. The outer tough and hard layer called the epidermis and the inner thin or dermis layer. Epidermis consists of flat cells fitted like plates dermis is separated from epidermis with the basal membrane. Like nails, skin can also regenerate itself if damaged by accident or bruise or some infection.

Apart from the layers, the human skin is made of cells. The youngest cells are called basal cells and the skin cells are continuously pushed towards the new basal cells on formation. The basal cells undergo changes until they become squamous cells (a type of connective cell), which migrate to the surface of the skin as older cells are shed. The dermis and epidermis have special cells called melanocytes that lie between hem. These cells produce melanin through a complicated process and are responsible for skin coloration.

The pigment is taken up by the epidermal cells to give the skin, its characteristic color. Decrease of melanin leads to gray hair and a total loss of melanin produces white hair. The melanin pigment is usually lost from both skin and hair in most people by the time of old age.

The outermost layer of the cell is made up of dead cells and it takes about 26 days for new basal cells to mature and get pushed to the surface, thus most of the epidermis is replaced in about 26 days.