Where do dead skin cells go? That’s not an existential question. If you’re interested in keeping your skin looking healthy and fresh, then understanding what happens to dead skin cells is essential.What are dead skin cells? Show
The Life of an Epidermis Skin CellThe life story of epidermis skin cells is a short and heroic one, with skin cells protecting the body every step of the way. On average, your skin sees a new outer layer of cells every 28 days. The most abundant type of skin cells are keratinocytes, which make up about 90-95% of all cells in the epidermis.1,2Keratinocytes produce keratin, a protein that acts as a sturdy and waterproof defense against the environment. These cells start from stem cells in the lowest layer of the epidermis. In this layer, called the basal layer, skin cells are fed a nutrient-rich blood supply. As even newer cells develop, these cells get pushed up toward the upper layers, further away from its source of nutrients. As the cells move upwards they develop more and more keratin, becoming harder, flatter, and dryer. By the time they’ve reached the stratum granulosum, the cells develop a more granular appearance and are highly keratinized. It’s also at this point that they begin their cellular death. As the cells enter the stratum lucidum — the second to the uppermost outer layer — they have flattened and died, because of their increasing distance from the nutrient-rich blood supply of the basal layer. 1,2 |