Skin and hydration

The skin is much more than a simple layer covering our bodies.
  • skin-and-hydration-experts-advice
  • skin-and-hydration-experts-advice

Our skin plays three roles

Our skin is much more than just an outer layer. In fact, it has a triple role:
  1. Protection: the skin is a barrier against aggressions (bacteria, chemicals, climate, etc.)
  2. Thermoregulation: the skin can accelerate or slow down heat loss.
  3. Adapting to the external environment: the skin constantly sends information to the brain about every reaction or aggression.
 
20% of the body's water is found in the skin, equal to 8 liters.
Water is an essential element in the skin, as it prolongs its youthfulness and improves its elasticity and radiance.
Hydrated skin is therefore more resistant to aggressions from the outside environment.
 

Our skin has three layers

Human skin is a complex tissue made up of three stratified layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis.
  • The epidermis is the skin's outermost layer. It is about one millimeter thick.  It varies depending on the area of the body, and thus is thicker on the palms of the hands due to a thicker cornified layer.
The surface of the epidermis (or the skin) is covered with a hydrolipidic film, an emulsion made of water and lipids produced by the sebaceous glands. This hydrolipidic film forms a protective layer over the skin. Its hydrophobic composition (lipids) helps the skin maintain its suppleness, provide protection and regulate the body's water content by preventing transepidermal water loss. 
  • The dermis is the "essential" layer of the skin. A highly vascularized tissue, it is 10 to 40 times thicker than the epidermis. The dermis plays a support role, particularly thanks to its collagen component, and also nourishes the epidermis. It provides the skin with resistance and elasticity. 
  • The hypodermis is the deepest layer of the skin. Made up primarily of adipose tissue, the hypodermis is a protective cushion, a thermal isolator and an energy reservoir (lipids, fatty acids).