Is only the top layer of skin cells alive?
1 Answer
Oct 25, 2016
Top most layer of skin is actually dead and keratinised.
Explanation:
The skin has three histologically different layers: outermost epidermis, middle dermis and innermost hypodermis.
The epidermis is stratified epithelium, sitting on basement membrane. Innermost basal layer gives rise to new cells continuously, while cells reaching outermost layer are all dead.
See related content on the function of the skin and how the epidermis regenerates.
