Some discussions surrounding skin have led to much debate.  People have discussed in great lengths about the notion of colorblindness and racism, but not about the proper care of skin.  Learning about the purpose and functions of your skin is helpful in choosing the right products for your specific skin type. 

Skin is composed of 3 main layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcantenous.

Epidermis – (outer layer) what we see; provides a protective covering for the body; contains melanin (which is brown pigment that protects the skin against ultra violet rays from the sun…it also gives skin its color, which can be fair, medium or dark). The image to the right represents only a few of the skin complexions that exist among people.

Dermis – (inner layer) – contains blood vessels, hair follicles, sebaceous glands & much more

Subcutaneous (deeper inner layer) – provides insulation

There are 3 main types of skin:

Dry – a rough, coarse texture; dull, pale appearance; tightens after washing…these characteristics are a result of under-active sebaceous glands

Oily – has over-active sebaceous glands…prone to pimples and blackheads; shiny appearance. Oily skin is most prevalent among adolescents.

Combination – mixture of dry and oily characteristics; e.g. dry area of the face is usually around the eyes and cheeks and the oily part of the skin is around the nose, chin, and forehead.

For individuals with dry skin, especially, African-Caribbean people, doctors recommend bathing in warm water and applying lotion within 15 minutes of drying off. These simple tasks can help keep dry skin moisturized. Also, the visualization of dry skin is easily seen among individuals with medium to dark brown skin complexions than those with lighter skin. For children, this visualization of dry skin, which is usually white as chalk, may make them more susceptible to teasing by peers.