Reviewed by: Ownist Product Development Researcher
Understanding the Dermis Layer of Skin
The skin has three layers: the outer epidermis, the middle dermis, and the deeper subcutaneous fat. The dermis makes up about 90% of the skin's thickness and plays a vital role in keeping the skin healthy and youthful.
Importance of the Dermis
The dermis is crucial for keeping the skin elastic and moist. It provides support, helps transport nutrients to the outer skin, and keeps the overall skin balance.
Key Components of the Dermis
- Collagen: This is the main part of the dermis, making up over 90% of it. It acts like a support pillar, maintaining the skin's structure.
- Elastin: This protein helps the skin stay flexible, allowing it to bounce back to its shape after movements like smiling or frowning.
- Hyaluronic Acid: Known for its ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, this component keeps the skin hydrated by filling up the space between collagen and elastin fibers.
Aging and the Dermis
As we get older, the amount of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid in the dermis decreases. This leads to less elasticity, more wrinkles, and dryer skin.
Particularly, collagen, which constitutes 90% of the dermis and serves as the primary structural element, diminishes by about 1% each year starting in our thirties. The levels of not only collagen but also elastin and hyaluronic acid decrease with age.
To combat this, it's important to take good care of these key components with proper skincare to keep the skin firm and hydrated.