Introduction to Pollution & The Human Body: Skinology
What makes up our skin?
Skin is made up of three layers. Namely, the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis.
Epidermis: The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin. It acts as a barrier that dispels water and is in charge of protecting the body from external and environmental factors like bacteria and infections.
Dermis: The dermis lies beneath the epidermis. It is the thickest layer of skin. It’s made up of fibrous and elastic tissue, blood vessels, sebaceous glands and hair follicles. It is strong and flexible and is responsible for protecting the epidermis and the deeper layers of skin and assists with regulating core temperature. The dermis also has phagocytes which absorb bacteria and other small toxic cells, this provides another layer of protection to the body.
Hypodermis: The hypodermis is the lowermost layer which connects the skin to the fibrous tissue. It is mainly fat with nerves and blood vessels. The hypodermis helps with protecting vital organs and also assists in shock absorption. It also helps with insulation.
Our skin is an organ which helps protect us from external factors. But how do airborne pollutants interact with our bodies…?