In every drugstore, supermarket, and beauty supply store, you will find an entire section dedicated to skin care. Nestled between body washes and dental hygiene lie rows of creams, cleansers, serums, and topical ointments, all with the marketed purpose of curing or preventing skin insecurities.
The skin is the largest organ of the human body, referred to in the biology world as the integumentary system. It is layers of cells compacted together with different makeups and functions.
kAm%96 D<:? :D 2=D@ 2 >2;@C A2CE @7 H9@ H6 2C6 2D :?5:G:5F2=D] |6=2?:?[ 3=6>:D96D[ DF?3FC?D[ DA@ED[ 2?5 HC:?<=6D 2C6 2== 762EFC6D @7 @FC A9JD:42= 2AA62C2?46 E92E @E96CD ?@E:46 7:CDE] xE A=2JD 2 DEC@?8 C@=6[ H96E96C H6 =:<6 :E @C ?@E[ :? 9@H H6 2C6 A6C46:G65[ H9:49 :D >@C6 @7E6? E96 C62D@? H9J D@ >2?J A6@A=6 AFE 677@CE :?E@ E96 42C6 2?5 >2:?E6?2?46 @7 E96:C D<:?]k^Am
kAm%96 :562= D<:? EJA6[ 2D 567:?65 3J D@4:6EJ 2?5 E96 >65:2[ :D 4@>>@?=J 56A:4E65 2D 7=2H=6DD[ 56G@:5 @7 HC:?<=6D 2?5 3=6>:D96D[ 2?5 @442D:@?2==J =24<:?8 A@C6D 2?5 E6IEFC6[ E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 H9:49 :D ?2EFC2=] x? 2? 2EE6>AE E@ >:CC@C E9:D :562= D<:?[ A6@A=6 DE2CE FD:?8 2 G2C:6EJ @7 AC@5F4ED[ D@>6 AC6D4C:365 3J =:46?D65 AC@76DD:@?2=D 2?5 @E96CD 3J 46=63C:EJ 6?5@CD6CD]k^Am
k9cm$<:? r@?46C?Dk^9cm
kAm%96 >@DE 4@>>@? D<:? 4@?46C?D 2>@?8 :?5:G:5F2=D :?4=F56 24?6 2?5 HC:?<=6D[ D@>6E:>6D C676CC65 E@ 2D “D:8?D @7 28:?8]â€k^Am
kAmp4?6 :D 2 3F:=5FA :? E96 A@C6D @7 D63F> 2?5 5625 D<:? 46==D] $63F> :D 2 ?2EFC2==J @44FCC:?8 @:= E92E 96=AD E@ =F3C:42E6 E96 D<:? E@ AC6G6?E 5CJ:?8 2?5 4C24<:?8] w@C>@?6D[ 286[ 324E6C:2[ 2?5 :?E6C?2= :?7=2>>2E:@? 42? 2== 42FD6 @C 96:89E6? E96 AC6D6?46 2?5 =@?86G:EJ @7 24?6]k^Am
kAm(C:?<=6D 2C6 42FD65 3J E96 ?2EFC2= 3C62<5@H? @7 4@==286? 2?5 6=2DE:4 7:36CD E92E @44FCD 2D H6 286] q@E9 @7 E96D6 4@>A@?6?ED 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ E96 D<:?VD 7=6I:3:=:EJ 2?5 23:=:EJ E@ >2:?E2:? :ED D92A6] p=@?8 H:E9 E9:D ?2EFC2= 3C62<5@H?[ 2D H6 286[ @FC D<:? E9:?D 2?5 46==D ?@ =@?86C C686?6C2E6 2?5 D965 2D 7C6BF6?E=J[ C6DF=E:?8 :? C65F465 6=2DE:4:EJ 2?5 HC:?<=6D] %9:?8D =:<6 &' 6IA@DFC6[ 2D H6== 2D @FC C6A62E65 724:2= 6IAC6DD:@?D[ 42? 2== 92G6 2? 67764E @? HC:?<=6 7@C>2E:@?]k^Am
kAmuC@> E96D6 4@>>@? D<:? :?D64FC:E:6D 2C:D6D E96 BF6DE:@? @7 EC62E>6?ED] $@>6 @7 E96 >@C6 A@AF=2C EC62E>6?ED E92E 92G6 6>6C865 :? C646?E J62CD E92E 4=2:> E@ 2:5 :? E96D6 D<:? :?D64FC:E:6D 2C6 C6E:?@=D 2?5 C6E:?@:5D[ E96 4@?DF>AE:@? @7 @C2= DFAA=6>6?ED DF49 2D 4@==286?[ 2?5 G:E2>:? r D6CF>D]k^Am
k9cm#6E:?@:5D^#6E:?@=Dk^9cm
kAm#6E:?@:5D 2?5 C6E:?@=D 2C6 AC@>@E65 2D 2?E:\28:?8 EC62E>6?ED 7@C E96 7246 2?5 DFCC@F?5:?8 D<:?] %96 5:DE:?4E:@? 36EH66? E96 EH@ :D E92E C6E:?@:5D 2C6 AC6D4C:365 3J AC@76DD:@?2=D H9@ 92G6 6I2>:?65 E96 D<:? 2?5 7@F?5 2 4=:?:42= A6C46?E286 7@C 2 A2E:6?E[ H96C62D C6E:?@=D 2C6 >2C<6E\32D65 2?5 2G2:=23=6 H:E9@FE 2 AC6D4C:AE:@?]k^Am
kAm$J?E96E:42==J >256 � FDF2==J 56C:G65 7C@> ':E2>:? p 2?5 4@>3:?65 H:E9 ?2EFC2= D@FC46D � E96D6 496>:42= 4@>A@F?5D[ 7@F?5 :? 4C62>D 2?5 D6CF>D[ 2C6 7@C>F=2E65 :? 2 H2J E92E 2446=6C2E6D 46==F=2C EFC?@G6C H:E9:? E96 D<:?]k^Am
kAmpD 6IA=2:?65 :? E96 3@@< “r@D>6E:4 u@C>F=2E:@? @7 $<:? r2C6 !C@5F4ED� 3J 4@D>6E:4 496>:DED +@6 s:2?2 sC26=@D 2?5 {2FC6? p] %92>2?[ E96D6 7@C>F=2D :?4C62D6 E96 E9:4<?6DD @7 E96 D<:? 2?5 42? :?9:3:E E96 ?2EFC2= 6?KJ>6D E92E 3C62< 5@H? 4@==286? :? E96 D<:? H:E9 286] %96 67764ED @7 E9:D E9:4<6?:?8 286?E 92G6 366? D9@H? E@ C65F46 E96 2AA62C2?46 @7 HC:?<=6D 2?5[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ C686?6C2E6 46==D 72DE 6?@F89 E@ 96=A 4=62C 24?6]k^Am
kAms6DA:E6 E96 D66>:?8=J >:C24F=@FD 67764ED @7 E9:D EC62E>6?E[ E96C6 2C6 F?56?:23=6 D:56 67764ED]k^Am
kAms6?6D6 {@GG@C?[ 2 =:46?D65 26DE96E:4:2? 2?5 @H?6C @7 %96 !6E:E6 q62FEJ $F:E6 :? |6D2[ pC:K@?2[ 56D4C:36D :E 2D DF49i Q%JA:42==J[ H96? H6 2C6 FD:?8 C6E:?@=D 7C@> A9JD:4:2?D[ E9@D6 E6?5 E@ 36 2E 9:896C A6C46?E286D 2?5 2 AFC6 C6E:?@= 7@C>]]]3FE 3642FD6 E96J 92G6 E92E 9:896C DEC6?8E9[ E96J 42? 42FD6 D:56 67764ED DF49 2D D6C:@FD A9@E@\DF? D6?D:E:G:EJ[ C65?6DD[ :CC:E2E:@? :? E96 D<:?[ 2?5 @7E6? 5CJ?6DD 2?5 A66=:?8 2D H6==]â€k^Am
k9cmr@==286?k^9cm
kAmr@==286? :D 2 ?2EFC2= AC@E6:? 7@F?5 :? E96 3@5J E92E 96=AD AC6D6CG6 DECF4EFC6 2?5 7=6I:3:=:EJ] xE :D 7@F?5 :? ;@:?ED[ 92:C[ E6?5@?D[ 2?5 D<:?[ H96C6 :E AC@>@E6D 7=6I:3:=:EJ 2?5 2AA62C2?46 3J 2==@H:?8 ?6H 46==D E@ AC@=:76C2E6 H9:=6 AFD9:?8 2H2J @=5 2?5 5625 @?6D]k^Am
kAmx? >@C6 C646?E J62CD[ E96 4@?DF>AE:@? @7 4@==286? :? =:BF:5 2?5 A@H56C 7@C> 92D 366? AC@>@E65 2D 2 D<:? 42C6 DFAA=6>6?E 7@C D=@H:?8 2?5 6G6? C6G6CD:?8 E96 4@D>6E:4 67764ED @7 28:?8 2?5 :>AC@G:?8 @G6C2== 2AA62C2?46] r@?D:56C:?8 E96 :>A@CE2?E C@=6 @7 4@==286? :? E96 D<:?[ >2?J A6@A=6 D66<:?8 EC62E>6?E 7@C E96:C 4@?46C?D 2?5 :?D64FC:E:6D 92G6 368F? E@ 255 DFAA=6>6?E2= 4@==286? E@ E96:C 5:6ED]k^Am
kAmp a_aa DEF5J E:E=65 “r@==286? $FAA=6>6?ED 7@C p8:?8 2?5 (C:?<=6Di p !2C25:8> $9:7E :? E96 u:6=5D @7 s6C>2E@=@8J 2?5 r@D>6E:4D� 7@F?5 E92E 3@E9 @C2= 2?5 E@A:42= 4@==286? 42? :>AC@G6 E96 2AA62C2?46 @7 D<:? 3J C65F4:?8 HC:?<=6D] w@H6G6C[ 2== DEF5:6D E9FD 72C 92G6 ?@E E2<6? :?E@ 244@F?E G2CJ:?8 286 8C@FAD[ 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4:C4F>DE2?46D DF49 2D &' 6IA@DFC6[ 2?5 5:776C6?E D<:? EJA6D[ >62?:?8 E92E E96 67764ED @7 4@==286? DFAA=6>6?ED H:== G2CJ 7C@> A6CD@? E@ A6CD@?] %96 C6D62C496CD 5@[ 9@H6G6C[ 5:D4FDD E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 4@==286? E9C@F89@FE E96 3@5J 36J@?5 E96 D<:? 2?5 9@H E96 A2CE:4F=2C 2>:?@ 24:5D ?66565 7@C 4@==286? AC@5F4E:@? 42? 36 7@F?5 :? E96 2G6C286 AC@E6:? 4@?DF>AE:@? H6 D66 E@52J]k^Am
kAm':E2>:? rk^Am
kAm':E2>:? r D6CF>D 4=2:> E@ 3C:89E6? E96 7246 3J C65F4:?8 52C< DA@ED 2?5 5:D4@=@C2E:@? H9:=6 >2:?E2:?:?8 E96 ?2EFC2= D<:? 4@=@C] !2C6?ED 2?5 5@4E@CD 92G6 =@?8 6>A92D:K65 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 G:E2>:? r 7@C 49:=5C6? 2?5 25F=ED 2=:<6] r:ECFD 2?5 @E96C 4@>>@? 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D 92G6 366? AC@G6? E@ 4@?E2:? E9:D G:E2= G:E2>:?[ 3FE :E H2D?’E F?E:= C646?E=J E92E E96 D<:? 42C6 :?5FDECJ >@G65 E9:D G:E2>:? 7C@> D@>6E9:?8 E@ 4@?DF>6 E@ D@>6E9:?8 2AA=:423=6 2D 2 E@A:42= D@=FE:@? E@ D<:? :?D64FC:E:6D]k^Am
kAm&?=:<6 E96 G:E2>:? r E92E H6 62E[ E@A:42= D@=FE:@?D 4@?E2:?:?8 G:E2>:? r 2C6 56D:8?65 :? 2 46CE2:? H2J E92E >2<6D E96> FD67F= 2D D<:? 42C6 AC@5F4ED]k^Am
kAm{@GG@C? 6IA=2:?D E92E “H96? 4@D>6E:4 496>:DED 2C6 7@C>F=2E:?8[ E96J 2C6 AF==:?8 E96 49:C2==J 4@CC64E A@CE:@? @7 H92E6G6C E9@D6 G:E2>:?D 2C6 E@ 36 23=6 E@ 6?DFC6 E92E :E :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 36?67:4:2= E@ E96 D<:?[ :E’D ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 36 2? :CC:E2?E E@ E96 D<:?[ 2?5 :E 42? 36 AC@A6C=J 23D@C365 2?5 FE:=:K65 3J E96 D<:?]â€k^Am
kAmq6J@?5 E96 E@A:42= FD6 @7 G:E2>:? r[ :E D6CG6D 2D 2? :>A@CE2?E 4@>A@?6?E @7 @FC =:G6D 3642FD6 @7 :ED 7F?4E:@? 2D 2? 2?E:@I:52?E[ 2 >@=64F=6 E92E DE@AD E96 496>:42= AC@46DD @7 @I:52E:@? 7C@> @44FCC:?8 H:E9:? E96 3@5J] ~I:52E:@? :D 2 AC@46DD E92E AC@5F46D 7C66 C25:42=D[ H9:49 42? 36 92C>7F= E@ :>A@CE2?E >@=64F=6D :? E96 3@5J DF49 2D s}p[ =:A:5D[ 2?5 AC@E6:?D[ 6249 @7 H9:49 2C6 4@>A@?6?ED @7 E96 @G6C2== 2AA62C2?46 @7 E96 D<:?]k^Am
kAmsC] p=G:? p=E:>:C2?@[ 2 3:@496>:DECJ AC@76DD@C 2E }p&[ D2JD E92E 36J@?5 E96:C FD6D 2D 2 D<:? 42C6 EC62E>6?E[ “G:E2>:?D E92E 2=D@ 24E 2D 2?E:@I:52?ED Wp[ r[ 2?5 tX DFAA@CE @G6C2== 962=E9[ ?@E ;FDE D<:? 962=E9]Qk^Am
k9cmtI2>:?:?8 E96 #@@E r2FD6k^9cm
kAms6DA:E6 E96 2CC2J @7 E@A:42= 2?5 4@?DF>23=6 EC62E>6?ED AC@>@E65 3J D<:? 42C6 DA64:2=:DED[ :? >@C6 C646?E J62CD[ 3@E9 C6D62C496CD 2?5 AC24E:E:@?6CD 92G6 368F? E@ >@C6 4=@D6=J 6I2>:?6 E96 C@@E 42FD6 @7 D<:? 4@?46C?D] %96 >@DE 4@>>@? C@@E 42FD6 4@>6D 7C@> H:E9:? E96 3@5J[ 36J@?5 E96 =2J6CD @7 E96 D<:?]k^Am
kAm{@GG@C? 6IA=2:?D E92E “H96? H6 D66 :?7=2>>2E:@? @? E96 DFC7246[ E92E :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 E96 A9JD:42= C6AC6D6?E2E:@? @7 D@>6E9:?8 E92E :D 2=C625J :?7=2>65 @C :CC:E2E65 H:E9:? E96 3@5J]â€k^Am
kAmp a_ab C6D62C49 2CE:4=6 3J y:?8F2? *2?8 E:E=65 �%96 4@??64E:@? 36EH66? @C82? DJDE6>D 2?5 D<:? 962=E9 :? r9:?6D6 >65:4:?6� 6IA=@C6D E96 =@?8\96=5 36=:67D H:E9:? EC25:E:@?2= r9:?6D6 >65:4:?6] %96 2CE:4=6 56D4C:36D @G6C2== D<:? 962=E9 2D 2 >:CC@C @7 3@E9 =F?8 2?5 :?E6DE:?2= 962=E9[ 7FCE96C 6IA=2:?:?8 E92E 4@==286? 962=E9 E9C@F89@FE E96 3@5J :D C67=64E:G6 @7 =:G6C 2?5 82==3=2556C 962=E9] %96 >@C6 F?:BF6 E:6 E92E 2C:D6D 7C@> E96D6 AC24E:46D :D E92E F?962=E9J 6>@E:@?2= C68F=2E:@? 2?5 DEC6DD E92E 2 A6CD@? 4@F=5 36 6IA6C:6?4:?8 H:== 7FCE96C 27764E E96D6 @C82?D 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J E96 2AA62C2?46 @7 E96 D<:?]k^Am
kAmx?5:G:5F2=D 42? @3E2:? DFAA@CE65 6G:56?46 @? 9@H E@ 67764E:G6=J EC62E E96:C D<:? 3J C6G:6H:?8 2== A@DD:3:=:E:6D 2?5 :?G6DE:82E:?8 E96 AC@323=6 F?56C=J:?8 42FD6D @7 D<:? 4@?46C?D 2?5 :?D64FC:E:6D] %96J 42? 2=D@ G:D:E 2 C2?86 @7 AC@76DD:@?2=D 2?5 6G6? 56=G6 566A6C :?E@ E96>D6=G6D[ E96:C 923:ED[ E96:C >62=D[ 2?5 E96:C C@FE:?6D]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@F H2?E E@ :>AC@G6 @C >2:?E2:? J@FC D<:? 962=E9[ 7@4FD @? E96 :?E2<6 @7 ?FEC:6?E\C:49 7@@5D E92E 2=D@ DFAA@CE @G6C2== 962=E9[Q DF886DED p=E:>:C2?@]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E@A:42= EC62E>6?ED 42? 96=A H:E9 D<:? 5:77:4F=E:6D[ E96C6 2C6 72C >@C6 @AE:@?D 7@C D<:? 962=E9 2?5 362FEJ E92? 5CF8DE@C6 D6CF>D[ 4C62>D[ 2?5 DFAA=6>6?ED] (92E H6 62E 2?5 9@H H6 42C6 7@C @FC 3@5:6D 2== 92G6 2? :>A24E @? E96 962=E9 @7 @FC D<:? 2?5 @G6C2== H6== 36:?8]k^Am