Milady Skin structure & growth

Dermatology

Medical branch of science that deals with the study of skin-it's nature, structure, function, diseases, and treatment.

Dermatologist

A physician who specializes in diseases and disorders of the skin, hair, and nails.

Esthetician

Specializes in the cleansing, beautification, and preservation of the health of the skin on the entire body.

Callus

Repeated pressure on any part of skin.

Epidermis

Outermost and thinnest layer of the skin.

Stratum corneum

Outer layer of epidermis.

Keratin

Fibrous protein that is also the principle component of hair and nails.

Stratum spinosum

Spiny layer just about stratum germinativum. Process of skin cell shedding begins.

Stratum germinativum

Basal cell layer; deepest layer of epidermis. Skin cells process and grow here

Melanocytes

Produces dark skin pigment called melanin.

Dermis

Underlying or inner layer of the skin. 25x thicker than the epidermis.

Arrector pili muscles

Small, involuntary muscles in the base of the hair follicle that causes goose bumps.

Papillary layer

Directly below the epidermis. Outer layer of dermis. Houses the nerve endings that provide the body with sense of touch, pain, heat, cold and pressure. Dermal Papillae are here

Dermal papillae

Small, cone shaped elevations at the base of the hair follicle.

Reticular layer

Supplies skin with all of its oxygen and nutrients.

Subcutaneous tissue

Fatty tissue found below the dermis. Responsible for body's shape and contour

Motor nerve fibers

Carry impulses from the brain to the muscles to move.

Sensory nerve fibers

Send messages to the brain about sensation, like touch, heat, cold, pain

Melanin

Tiny grains of pigment that are produced by melanocytes and then deposited into cells in the basal layer of epidermis and papillary layer of dermis.

Pheomelanin

Red to yellow in color.

Eumelanin

Dark brown to black in color.

Collagen

A fibrous protein that gives the skin form and strength.

Elastin

Gives the skin its flexibilty and elasticity.

Sebaceous glands

Lubricate the skin by secreting oil, connected to hair follicles.

Open comedo

Blackhead. A pore impaction.

Closed comedo

Has a very small surface follicle opening and appears as a white bump just under skin surface.

Water

Makes up 50-70% of the body's weight. Lack of #1 cause for daytime fatigue

functions of the skin

protection, prevents penetration, perception, temperature regulation, identification, communication, wound repair, absorption

lesion

A mark on the skin; may indicate an injury or damage that changes the structure of tissues or organs.

dermatitis

inflammatory condition of the skin

eczema

Painful, itchy and non-contagious skin inflammation, which can have the appearance of either dry or moist lesions

psoriasis

red patches covered with silver whitish scales usually found on the scalp, elbows, knees, chest and lower back.

bulla

large blister

cyst

closed sac, abnormally developed sac containing fluid or pus that is above or below the skin

papule

pimple

pustule

Inflamed pimple containing pus.

Vesicle

a small blister or sac containing clear fluid, lying within or just beneath the epidermis

wheal

Itchy, swollen lesion that lasts only a few hours; caused by a blow, the bite of an insect, urticaria, or the sting of a nettle.

crust

Dead cells that form over a wound or blemish while it is healing; an accumulation of sebum and pus, sometimes mixed with epidermal material.

Excoriation

Skin sore or abrasion produced by scratching or scraping

fissure

a crack in the skin

keloid

Thick scar resulting from excessive growth of fibrous tissue

scale

Any thin dry or oily plate of epidermal flakes. An example is abnormal or excessive dandruff.

Scar or Cicatrix

Light-colored, slightly raised mark on the skin formed after an injury or lesion of the skin has healed.