Well, you are not alone! The thing is, your facial skin is extremely different from the rest of your body’s skin. To build a comprehensive skin care regimen, you must fully understand your skin. In this article, we will look at how your facial skin differs from the rest of your body. However, you must first learn all about the skin in detail. Keep reading to find out more!
The Epidermis: This is the topmost layer of your skin (which you can see). It acts as a protective layer and a waterproof barrier and is also responsible for your skin tone. The Dermis: This layer lies just underneath the epidermis. It contains the connective tissues, the sweat glands, and the hair follicles. The Hypodermis: This is a subcutaneous tissue made of connective tissues, and it mainly stores fat.
The epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis on your face are different from those on the rest of your body. Let’s find out how.
How Facial Skin Differs From Body Skin
Let’s proceed layer by layer!
1. Epidermis
The epidermis of your skin has several sublayers, including stratum basale and stratum corneum (2). These sublayers have different types of cells that are responsible for a variety of functions, such as the protective effects of the epidermis and your skin tone. The cells include keratinocytes, melanocytes, merkel cells, and langerhans (3).
Keratinocytes: These cells constitute about 90% of the epidermis. They continuously undergo cell division and replacement. The old cells migrate to the topmost layer of the skin and are called corneocytes. Melanocytes: These cells give you your skin tone. Melanocytes produce melanin that protects your skin from the UV rays of the sun. Merkel Cells: These cells help you detect the sensation of touch. Langerhans: These are immune cells that specialize in antigen presentation and protect your body from infections.
These cells are not evenly distributed on your face and body. The epidermis of your face is thinner than the epidermis of your body due to uneven cell distribution. Let’s take a look:
Epidermis Of The Face Vs. Epidermis Of The Body
2. Dermis
The dermis makes your skin elastic and gives it strength as it contains elastic and fibrous tissues. Apart from that, the dermis also contains: · The genitals contain 4-8 layers.
Sweat Glands: There are two types of sweat glands in the dermis – the apocrine glands (found in areas where you have more hair, such as armpits and groin) and the eccrine glands (major sweat glands responsible for producing sweat and control body temperature by evaporating) (4). Blood Vessels: These provide nutrients to the epidermis as there are no blood vessels in the epidermis (5). Sebaceous Glands: These glands produce sebum and are usually attached to the hair follicles in your skin. Hair Follicles: These help in enhancing your sensations and regulating your body temperature. Body hair is of two types – vellus hair (soft and fine hair found on infants) and terminal hair (long and coarse hair found on adults).
Dermis Of The Face Vs. Dermis Of The Body
3. Hypodermis
The hypodermis is the innermost layer of your skin and a storehouse of fat cells that protect your body from heat and cold. It also contains adipose tissue (a type of fatty tissue) that your body uses when it faces a caloric deficit (6). · During puberty, women retain their vellus hair, while it turns to terminal hair in men.
Hypodermis Of The Face Vs. Hypodermis Of The Body
Generally, in females, the hypodermis is the thickest in areas such as buttocks, thighs, and hips. In males, it is the thickest in the thighs and the abdomen. However, when it comes to the face, both men and women have thick hypodermis deposits in their cheeks. If you touch the skin on your face, scalp, armpits, hands, and feet, you can feel the difference. That is the reason each body part demands specific skin care products and a thorough skin care routine. The skin on your face
is always exposed and takes on environmental stress, pollution, and the UV rays. Hence, it is sensitive and ages faster than the rest of your body. is susceptible to blemishes, hyperpigmentation, and related skin issues. Compared to the skin on the rest of the body, it needs specific skin care products to address all these issues and promote cell regeneration. is delicate, especially the area around your eyes, which is why it needs special attention and gentle care.
The skin on your scalp
is rich in blood vessels and contains more sebaceous glands than any other part of your body. This is because the sebaceous glands are attached to the hair follicles, and your scalp has the maximum concentration of hair. The excess sebaceous glands and the thick hair make your scalp prone to skin issues if you do not take care of it. Just like your face, it also needs gentle care to nourish the hair roots and promote healthy hair.
The skin on your armpits
is extremely sensitive as it always rubs against each other and does not get much light or air. is exposed to skin treatments, such as waxing and shaving, and the chemicals contained in deodorants and antiperspirants. is dark, moist, and produces odor due to the metabolization of bacteria. needs extra care. You should exfoliate it regularly and keep it clean. Also, ditch deodorants with harsh chemicals and switch to natural deodorants.
The skin on your hands
works really hard. Your palms and fingers are hard and usually lack a natural moisturizing factor. That’s why you need to moisturize them regularly. is thin and cannot bind moisture properly, making it prone to dehydration. is regularly exposed to solvents, surfactants, and chemicals that strip away moisture and make it dry. Therefore, you need to exfoliate it regularly. Use mild products that do not cause moisture loss and maintain the pH level of the skin.
The skin on your feet
has extra padding and rougher and harder skin compared to the rest of the body. It is mostly exposed to excessive pressure and friction, making it prone to calluses. may develop corns because of uncomfortable and tight shoes. is susceptible to fungal infections (due to dry and cracked skin). Use softening creams and wash your feet with effective cleansers. Also, don’t forget to get rid of the dead skin cells using a foot buffer.
Is the skin on your neck the same as on your face? No. The skin on your neck is thinner than the skin on your face. It has less collagen and is more prone to sun damage than the facial skin. Is underarm skin thin? Yes. The underarm skin is relatively thin and sensitive. Is scalp skin the same as face skin? No. The scalp skin has more sebaceous glands, hair follicles, and blood vessels than the facial skin.
