Your skin is the largest organ in your body and if hypothetically you could take your skin off and lay it out, the surface area (depending on your height and size) would be around two metres. It is, therefore, important to look after your skin. Understanding your skin and the dermatological conditions and terms associated with it can be confusing, especially as there are a number of terms that sound very similar. This article aims to be a quick guide to some of the basic skin and dermatology terms that it can be helpful to know.
Acne / Acne Vulgaris - Acne is a skin condition that is primarily caused when hair follicles or sebaceous glands become blocked or inflamed. The resulting conditions are what most people would call 'spots' or 'zit' as all-encompassing terms. In fact, the condition varies between sufferers, with some having blackheads or whiteheads, while more extreme cases may involve papules, pustules or cysts.
Collagen - Collagen is a protein that is a central component of our bones, cartilage and skin. Collagen is what gives the skin its strength - younger people tend to have more collagen while there is a natural decline in collagen as you get older. A lack of collagen will result in thinner skin, producing wrinkles and sagging. Collagen gives our skin the strength to withstand stretching.
Contact Dermatitis / Dermatitis - Dermatitis refers simply to an inflammation of the skin, it is more of an observation than a final diagnosis of a condition. The term dermatitis usually refers to a red rash that is often itchy. Contact Dermatitis is where you suffer an allergic reaction or rash as a result of touching something - this could be an animal, a plant or a chemical substance.
Dermis - The dermis is the layer of the skin that is found beneath the epidermis. It is the sensitive connective tissue layer and contains nerve endings, sebaceous glands, blood vessels and sweat glands. Collagen fibres and elastin can also be found in this skin layer.
Dermabrasion - This term effectively refers to a more extreme form of exfoliation. It is a cosmetic surgery procedure mainly used to reduce acne scars through abrading the surface layer of the skin. It can also be referred to as 'skin planing'. Dermabrasion is often done with fine sandpaper or wire brushes.
Elastin - Like collagen, elastin is a protein that is found in the skin. Elastin, as the name might suggest, helps the skin to maintain its elasticity i.e. how easily it can regain its shape after being stretched or folded. Again in a similar way to collagen, elastin naturally depletes over time reducing the skin's ability to 'bounce back' - leading to wrinkles.
Epidermis - The epidermis is the outer layer of skin that lies over the dermis. 'Epi-' is a Greek prefix that means 'upon' or 'over', hence 'epidermis'. This is the protective or barrier layer of the skin. It is a tough layer of skin that protects us from the outside world but it is also renewable and constantly sheds dead cells and grows new layers.
Fibroblast - Fibroblasts are large flat cells that are responsible for making connective tissue. These cells are found all over the body, not just in skin, and are capable of producing collagen fibres.
Hyperpigmentation - Hyperpigmentation is when excess pigment can be found in the skin but this term does not refer to when people have a darker skin tone. Hyperpigmentation is where there is an abnormal excess of pigment in the skin, often in a small area - this may be caused by sun damage, acne scarring or inflammation of the skin. Freckles are a common form of hyperpigmentation that is not caused by any health issue. In more serious cases an underlying cause of skin hyperpigmentation can be cancer.
Hypopigmentation - Hypopigmentation is effectively the opposite of hyperpigmentation. Where hyperpigmentation is an excess of pigment, hypopigmentation is a lack or a loss of skin pigment. Hypopigmentation is caused by a decrease in or a low level of melanin production. Vitiligo is one of the main types of hypopigmentation - this condition results in patches of hypopigmented skin. Albinism is also a type of hypopigmentation; it is where the individual has no melanin at all.
Inflammation - Inflammation is a term used to describe when the skin has reacted to an injury, an allergy or a disease. An inflammation is usually where the skin has become red or tender and may be quite painful.
Keratin / Keratinocytes - Keratin is a strong protein that is found in our hair, skin and nails and keratinocytes are the cells that produce it. The outer skin layer, along with hair and nails, is actually made up of dead cells. These cells push up from underneath and can act as a protective or insulating layer for the newer cells below.
Lesion - A lesion is a wound in the skin caused by injury or tissue damage. A lesion could be a blister, a sore, a scab, or a canker.
Melanin / Melanocytes - Melanin is the substance that gives skin its colour - it can also be referred to as pigment - and melanocytes and the cells in the skin that produce it. Individuals with higher amounts of melanin will have a darker skin tone while those with less melanin will have a lighter skin tone. Although it cannot protect us completely from the sun, melanin does provide a certain amount of protection against the UV rays of the sun.
Sebum - Sebum is the substance that is secreted by the sebaceous glands. Sebum is generally comprised of keratin, fat and cellular material. Its main purpose is to act as a lubricant for the skin and hair and to stop it from drying out. Sebum also provides some protection against bacteria. An excess of sebum can result in acne.
Sebaceous Glands - The sebaceous glands are glands that are attached to the bottom part of hair follicles. These glands secrete sebum when cells within the sebaceous gland burst.
Stratum Corneum - This term is the name for the outmost layers of the skin, this layer is also known as the 'dead' layer or the keratin layer. This layer is typically made up of dead cells that contain keratin and its main purpose is to provide protection for the more delicate cells found deeper in the skin.
Subcutaneous Layer - Also known as the hypodermis, the subcutaneous layer is the lowest layer of the skin. It is a fatty layer but it can also contain elastic fibres and nerves. Its main functions are regulating body temperature and acting almost like a cushion to help prevent injury.
Topical Therapy - A topical therapy is a treatment that is applied directly to the skin rather than you having to take it like a pill or an injection. A topical treatment may be a cream, an ointment, a gel or even an antibiotic.
T-Zone - The T-Zone is an area of the face made up of the forehead, nose and chin. There are more sebaceous glands in this part of the face and many people find they have an oily t-zone which can result in breakouts.
© Izzy Evans 2013
If you are in the UK and you would like to find out more about skin and dermatological conditions then you should visit a London Dermatology Clinic.
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