Should we know exactly about the middle layer of our skin, the dermis?

Have you ever wondered how amazingly your skin works? Our skin is not just a covering for our body. It is a very complex and important organ. Our skin is made up of three main layers. Today we are going to talk about the most important of these layers, the middle layer. We call it the dermis . It is sometimes called the corium , which is a Latin word meaning "skin."

What is the dermis? Simply put...

Simply put, the middle layer of your skin is the dermis. The top layer is called the epidermis, and the bottom layer is called the hypodermis. So the dermis is located between the top layer and the bottom layer.

Think of it like a sandwich. The top slice of bread is the epidermis, the bottom slice is the hypodermis. The delicious filling in the middle is the dermis. Inside this dermis, there are two other layers of their own. Let's look at that too.

What are the two layers in the dermis?

Yes, this dermis is not a single layer. There are two more parts inside it. They are:

1. Reticular Dermis - the bottom layer

This is the thickest part of the dermis, right underneath it. It's like the foundation of a house. It's inside of this that a lot of things that are very important to our skin are located.

• Blood vessels: These are what bring the necessary nourishment to the skin.
• Glands: Things like sweat glands, sebaceous glands (which produce oil).
• Hair follicles: This is where the hair on our body grows.
• Lymphatics: Related to the immune system.
• Nerves: These provide sensation.
• Fat cells.

This reticular dermis is surrounded by a network of elastin and collagen fibers. Think of it this way: elastin is like a rubber band, and collagen is like a strong thread. These two give our skin its strength and flexibility. These two allow us to stretch and stretch our skin.

2. Papillary Dermis - Top layer

This is the slightly thinner layer on top of the dermis. It is thicker than the reticular dermis. It also has several important functions:

• Collagen fibers.
• Fibroblast cells: These are the cells that help make things like collagen.
• Fat cells.
• Capillary loops: Help nourish the epidermis.
• Nerve fibers.
• Touch receptors (e.g. Meissner corpuscles): help us sense touch.
• Bacteria-fighting cells (phagocytes): Like the guards on our skin.

This papillary dermis extends to the basement layer of the epidermis. These two layers are connected to each other like the fingers of our hands clasped together . This is why there is a strong bond between the upper layer and the middle layer.

So what is the difference between the dermis and the epidermis?

Now that you have a little idea about these two layers, let's explain a little more.

• Epidermis: This is the outermost, thinnest layer of our skin. It's like our clothes. It keeps our body hydrated, makes new skin cells, and protects us from external damage (like cuts, scratches, and germs). It's also where the melanin that gives our skin its color is made.

• Dermis: This is the middle, thickest layer of the skin . It is much thicker than the epidermis. It contains collagen and elastin, which give the skin its strength, thickness, and support structure.

Imagine, if the epidermis is like the roof of a house, the dermis is the walls and pillars that hold that roof together.

The connective tissues, nerve endings, sweat glands, oil glands, and hair follicles in our skin are all located within the dermis. This means that most of the skin's "workers" are located here.

What services does the dermis provide to our body?

All the layers of our skin work together to protect our body. Among them, the dermis has many special functions. Take a look:

• Supports the Epidermis: The dermis provides good support to the upper layer due to its strong structure and elasticity. Also, the blood vessels in the dermis carry the necessary nutrients to the epidermis.
• It allows us to feel various sensations: The nerve endings in the dermis are what allow us to feel things like pressure, pain, heat, cold, and itching . Think about it, a mosquito bite hurts, an ice cube feels cold – all of these signals come from the dermis.
• Sweat is produced: Do you sweat when you feel hot or stressed? Sweat is produced by sweat glands in the dermis. Sweating helps regulate our body temperature (thermoregulation) .
• Keeps the skin moisturized: The dermis contains sebaceous glands . These secrete an oily substance called sebum . This sebum is what keeps our skin and hair moisturized and shiny, without drying them out.
• Hair is produced: Hair is produced from hair follicles in the dermis, almost everywhere on the body except the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet.

How does the dermis help other organs?

Together with the other layers of the skin, the dermis protects our skeletal system, internal organs, muscles, and tissues from external damage, like a protective shell.

Where is the dermis located? How big is it? What is it made of?

As we mentioned earlier, the dermis is the middle layer of the skin, located between the epidermis and the hypodermis.

The thickness of this varies from place to place on the body. For example, it is very thin on the eyelids, about 0.6 millimeters . But on the back, it can be about 4 millimeters thick .

The dermis is made up mainly of tissue that has many blood vessels. It also contains:

• Collagen
• Elastin
• A clear, jelly-like liquid (ground substance) that fills the spaces between cells and fibers.
• Various glands such as sweat glands and sebaceous glands.
• Hair follicles .

Are there any diseases that affect the dermis?

Yes, absolutely. There are many different conditions and disorders that can affect the dermis. Here are a few examples:

• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: This is a genetic condition that affects the skin, joints, and blood vessels.
• Urticaria / Hives: A condition in which a rash of itchy, red, raised bumps appears suddenly on the skin.
• Marfan syndrome: This is also a genetic condition that affects connective tissue.
• Primary dermal melanoma: A dangerous type of skin cancer.
• Solar elastosis: Damage to the skin caused by prolonged exposure to the sun.
• Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma): A disease in which the skin thickens and hardens.
• Tumors: There are various types of lumps that can occur on the skin.

What are the common characteristics of these types of dermis problems?

Here are some common symptoms that may occur in conditions affecting the dermis:

• Extravasation is the leakage of blood or other fluid from arteries or capillaries into tissues .
• Changes in the bones, eyes, lungs, skin, heart, and blood vessels .
• Dark, itchy patches on the skin.
• Unusually, easy bruising .
• Hypermobility of joints .
• The skin is very smooth, thin, and more elastic than normal .
• Tissue swelling .
• Eczema-like spots (Welts) .

If you have these symptoms, it is best to seek medical advice.

What tests are performed to check the health of the dermis?

Doctors perform various tests to determine if there is a problem with the dermis. Some of them include:

• Genetic testing: These can help diagnose certain conditions (e.g. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome).
• Skin biopsy: A small piece of skin is taken and examined under a microscope to check for disease, infection, or cancer.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan: Can be used to check for cancerous tumors, such as melanoma, in the brain or spinal cord.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan: This helps to see if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body distant from the original site.

What are the treatments for diseases of the dermis?

Here are some treatments for conditions that affect the dermis:

• Corticosteroids: These are a type of medication that reduces inflammation and tissue damage. They can be given as creams or pills.
• Skin grafts: This procedure is used to treat damaged skin that cannot heal on its own. It can help people with severe skin damage from things like burns, severe infections, and ulcers.
• Skin substitutes: These include allografts, xenografts, or synthetic skin made from non-biological molecules and polymers. These are useful for people with deep skin wounds, burns, and infections.

Simple things we can do to keep the dermis healthy: What we can do!

Now you know how valuable the dermis is. So we need to work a little harder to keep it healthy. Here are some simple things you can do:

• Establish good skin care habits:
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. It is very important to hydrate the body from the inside.
• Use mild soaps and cleansers that are not harmful to the skin.
• Apply a moisturizer after bathing and as needed.
• Follow your doctor's instructions.
• Treat injuries properly:
• Even if it's a small wound, wash it with clean water and soap to prevent infection.
• Then, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly (Vaseline™) or skin ointment (Aquaphor™) to the wound with a cotton ball and cover it with a clean bandage. This will help prevent dust and bacteria from entering.
• Protect yourself from sun damage:
• Prolonged exposure to sunlight damages the skin . This also affects the dermis, accelerates skin aging, and increases the risk of skin cancer.
• When going out in the sun, use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 .
• Wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible (like long-sleeved clothing and hats).

Remember, your dermis is like the heart of your skin. Even a small effort to keep it healthy can have a big impact on your overall health!

So, even though the dermis is the middle layer of our skin, the service it performs is not insignificant, is it? From protecting us from the outside world, to providing us with sensations, to regulating our body temperature through sweating, this dermis helps us. Therefore, it is our responsibility to take care of it. We can keep our dermis healthy by doing simple things like drinking plenty of water, treating injuries properly, and protecting ourselves from the sun.

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