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Skin Basics; Structure and Function

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Lipids and Skin Health

Abstract

Skin is the body’s protective barrier against a whole battery of environmental aggressors—both of natural and anthropogenic origins. It primarily protects against desiccation, and thus makes life on land possible. Every class of terrestrial organism has evolved an appropriate barrier against fluid loss from the body and almost all employ modifications of the cutaneous surface for this purpose. The formation of the barrier layer and its maintenance and renewal is the function of epidermal keratinocytes, although other cell types interacting with keratinocytes also play a significant role in regulation of this function. Besides, skin supports a large commensal microflora that is important in keeping in check the colonization of skin by pathogenic microbes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ASI Corporation, 1005, Route 202/206, 08807, Brdge water, NJ, USA

    Gopinathan K. Menon

  2. Ashland, 1005, Route 202/206, 08807, Brdge water, NJ, USA

    Gopinathan K. Menon

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  1. Gopinathan K. Menon
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Correspondence to Gopinathan K. Menon .

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  1. Johnson & Johnson, Skillman, New Jersey, USA

    Apostolos Pappas

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Menon, G. (2015). Skin Basics; Structure and Function. In: Pappas, A. (eds) Lipids and Skin Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09943-9_2

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