surgeons are familiar with the inside of the skin; the rest of us know only the visible bit. But a section of skin, see diagram left,is rather like that of a herbaceous border or river-bed: the vital bits are all hidden beneath the surface.skin comes in multiple layers. We pamper and worry about the topmost layer, but underneath is where the real action is.
the foundation of the skin is the subcutis, a firm and spongy layer that contains fat cells, blood vessels and nerve fibres.Above that sits the dermis, which not only serves as a soft underlay for epidermis but is also the skin's support system.some 3 mm thick, it contains blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles, oil and sweat glands and connective tissue.But most importantly perhaps, it contains collagen. Biologically, the most important role of collgen is to provide a scaffolding,
holding everthing together. But what it is best known for is giving the skin its bounce, vitality-and youth. collagen production,as skincare manufactures like to remind us, declines with age. So it is this dermal layer that is the target of every manufacturer's dream cream
