Makeup and Beauty

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and is composed of cells which keep dying but are being renewed all the time. Indeed, skin care is essential for the prolongation of youthful looks, not only for women but also for men. With a little care, skin problems and diseases can be avoided, controlled and even cured. A healthy skin is characterized by slight moisture, softness, flexibility, a slightly acidic reaction and the absence of any blemish or disease. It must possess a smooth, fine-grained texture, be affirmable visually and by touch. The skin of the scalp is essentially similar to the skin found elsewhere on the human body, except for the larger and deeper hair follicles present on the scalp for accommodating longer hair. The skin’s surface is not made up of just one layer. It has two defined layers—the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis, also called scarf skin or cuticle is a thin layer of the skin and forms a protective covering for the inner layer containing no blood vessel, but it has many small nerve endings. The epidermis is made up of the following layers :
• The stratum corneum or the horny layer Is the outer layer, which contains scale-like cells being shed and replaced by underneath cells and contains the protein keratin and a covering of oil.
• The stratum lucidum or clear layer consists of small transparent cells capable passing light rays.
• The stratum granulosum or granular layers consists of cells which look like distinct granules.
• The stratum germinativium is a thick layer composed of several layers of different shaped cells. The deepest layer contains a dark skin pigment called melanin and is responsible for the growth of the epidermis. The melanin protects the cells from the destructive effects of the ultra-violet rays of the sun.

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Filed under: Skin Care