Since BeautiControl is a company that specialized in technology driven skin care solutions, it is important that each of us fully understand some of the more basic elements of the skin and skin care in general. I will call this series of educational workshops Skin Care 101 since this is really the basic training that is needed by newer Consultants and necessary for those who are more seasoned as a refresher course, just to keep us on our toes.
In order to appreciate the solutions that BeautiControl offers, we really need to have a clear understanding of the function of the skin and the problems that can arise as we age. I am a firm believer that you can’t fully appreciate the solution until you understand the problem.
This blog will outline the basic structure of the skin and how the skin responds to the aging process. In upcoming issues, I will discuss in detail how each of our MRP product categories work in tandem to solve the age related problems.
Anatomy of the Skin
The function of the skin is undoubtedly miraculous in its function. As the body’s largest organ, it is responsible for protecting our organs, regulating temperature and maintaining hydration.
Every square inch of the skin contains thousands of cells. The skin is comprised of 3 distinct layers:
• Epidermis
• Dermis
• Subcutaneous tissue (fatty layer)
Epidermis
The epidermis is the outer-most layer of the skin. It is the tough, protective outer layer. The epidermis is about as thick as a piece of paper. The cells of the epidermis are constantly flaking off and being renewed.
There are two special types of cells within the epidermis:
• Melanocytes – Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. All people have roughly the same number of melanocytes. Those who are dark skinned produce more melanin, but do not have more melanocytes. Exposure to sunlight increases the production of melanin, which is why people get suntanned or freckled. Melanin is the skin’s natural cell protection or defense system.
• Keratinocytes – Keratinocytes produce keratin, a type of protein that is a basic component of hair and nails.
The epidermis is comprised of approximately 15 – 100 layers, depending on where they are on the body. The eyelids have the thinnest layers and the palms of the hand and soles of the feet have the thickest. Your heritage has a great deal to do with the “thickness” or the number of layers in your skin. Those of Nordic descent, who have fair hair and eyes, typically have fewer layers of epidermal cells which can leave the skin more prone to damage and the effects of aging. Those with darker hair and darker eyes, typically of Latin or African origin have more layers in the epidermis and are more prone to resist damage and the more advanced signs of aging. Think of your skin color as natural sunscreen…the fairer you are, the less resistance you have to sun damage. On the flip side, the darker you are, the more resistance you have to aging!
Regardless of whether you have more or less cells in your epidermis, this is how you are “programmed” and you will always maintain that same level of skin cells. So, when you lose a layer of dead surface cells, your body knows to kick into gear and give you a new layer of cells. Healthy, young skin has the ability to turn-over naturally, where older skin requires a little help to stimulate the rate that old skin cells are lost and new skin cells are developed.
Think of the layers of epidermal cells in 3 distinct sections:
o Grapes
o Raisins
o Cornflakes
Grapes
The new cells that are produced from the dermal matrix are round, plump and fully hydrated…much like a freshly picked grape. These fully hydrated cells are more resistant to damage when we are young. Increased damage can eventually cause fractures in these cells, making them weaker as we age.
Raisins
As these “grapes” push their way to the surface, the cells, or grapes, lose hydration and start to shrivel or dehydrate and begin to resemble a raisin.
Cornflakes
As the “raisins” continue to move toward the surface, they die and become flat, stacked and compacted on the surface of the skin. These dead, dry skin cells resemble a “cornflake”.
At the point that the skin cells get to this stage, they are dead and can be removed without causing skin irritation. This is why increased exfoliation is necessary to improve cell turn-over. It is the tendency of the skin to become more dry as we age. As the skin becomes more dry, the skin’s metabolism slows down in a defense mode. The skin attempts to hang on to the compacted surface layers in an effort to prevent moisture loss. As the body hangs on to old cells, the production of new skin cells will not occur.
Dermal/Epidermal Junction
Resting between the dermis and the epidermis is a fibrous layer called the dermal mesh or the dermal / epidermal junction. The dermal /epidermal junction is the deepest layer that cosmetic products can penetrate. This layer of the skin is the “motor” of skin metabolism, of which new skin cells are produced.
The dermal/epidermal junction contains two types of molecules collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin combine in a “weave” or “mesh” formation to give us our ease of movement. Collagen is strong and hard to stretch and elastin is elastic.
Dermis
Below the epidermis is the dermis. The dermis is made up of blood vessels, nerve endings and connective tissue. The dermis nourishes the epidermis. Cosmetic ingredients do not penetrate the dermis. Prescription skin treatments that are intended to enter the blood stream are the only topical treatments that can penetrate the dermis.
The FDA distinguishes between drugs and cosmetics by the product’s ability to enter the blood or the brain. Only drugs can pass the blood/brain barrier – NOT COSMETICS.
The Effects of Aging on the Skin
As we age, the skin has different requirements than it did when we were younger. Just like the body, the skin’s metabolism slows down as we age. In other words, the rate that the skin is renewed is dramatically decreased the older we get.
Also, as we age, our skin loses key components of support such as collagen and elastin fibers. This is one reason why the skin looks wrinkled. Exposure to UV radiation (sunlight) damages these fibers, and compounds the aging effects, i.e. wrinkles and lack of firmness. The only way to increase the body’s production of elastin and collagen molecules is to increase the rate that the skin renews itself – or, increase the skin’s “metabolism”, in other words.
When we are young, cells in the epidermis are replaced on average every 30 days. As we age, the rate of renewal decreases and natural skin exfoliation slows dramatically, increasing the need for added exfoliation in order to stimulate the skin’s renewal process.
In addition to the development of lines and wrinkles and the loss of firmness as we age, the skin is prone to excessive visible damage that manifests itself in the form of hyper-pigmentation. Exposure to UV radiation causes the melanin cells to “over produce” pigmentation that will eventually come to the surface in the form of an age spot, freckle, or any form of dark discoloration. People with lighter skin pigmentation are more prone to uneven melanin production which is why fairer skin people are more prone to age spots and hyperpigmentation.
Ok, class, that’s it for today. Your assignment between now and Celebration is to read this blog and have a good understanding of the skin’s anatomy, function and effects of aging. This is just a hint of some of the things I will be teaching in my MRP Workshop at Celebration. We will go through the individual changes that occur to our skin as we age and I will show you how each one of our MRP products work to address each of those individual concerns. And why, with our amazing products, you are better equipped than anyone to meet the needs of your consumers head-on. You won’t want to miss it!I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.