The Subcutaneous Layer

The Fat Layer

     The third layer of skin is the subcutaneous layer. It lies just under the epidermis and the dermis. The subcutaneous layer is 80% fat. This fat helps to protect and insulate the body.

      The fat in the subcutaneous layer also helps to give us the smooth skin we all desire.

Fat Is Where It's At

      Think about something with me. Have you ever seen an overweight lady with wrinkles? Probably not. Most all overweight ladies have full, smooth faces. There is no need for them to stop in at their local dermatologist office for injections, they have smooth, contoured skin from the fat in the subcutaneous layer. Now think about something else. Have you ever noticed that when a lady looses a lot of weight her skin is very loose and wrinkled. That's because she no longer has that self made filler that keeps her skin contoured and smooth. This is why most plastic surgeons do not want to give a lady a rhytidectomy (a face lift) if she is in the process of losing weight, until she has lost all of the weight that she plans to. The plastic surgeon wants to be sure and remove all of the loose, excess skin. 

           The subcutaneous layer helps to cushion us when we fall and also protects our inner organs. Keep in mind that like everything else in the body, the subcutaneous layer decreases and thins with age.
      The facts and functions of the subcutaneous layer are short and sweet, but are no less important than the epidermis and the dermis.

  Why Study The Layers Of The Skin?

     . The skincare industry is constantly changing. The composition of the skin never will. Understanding the layers of the skin will help you have more confidence when choosing skincare products and treatments. As we continue forward, I hope that you will also begin to understand how the aging process, sun exposure, hormones and other factors affect these layers which ultimately affects the skin's health and appearance.