Key Terms and Ideas

Terminology for Human Skin

• Epidermis- the first and the outermost layer of skin that makes contact with our surroundings. It consists of dead and dying cells

• Dermis- the second and the middle layer of skin where new cells are born. It is supplied with blood vessels, nerves, hair roots and sweat glands

• Hypodermis- the third and the innermost layer of human skin where larger blood vessels and clumps of fat-filled cells are found. It is where the muscles and the bones are attached by connective tissue

• Skin Cell Gun- an airbrush-like tool that is used to isolate and spray stem cells onto severely burned skin in order to heal the wounds faster

• Acne- a common skin disorder that often occurs during adolescence. It is caused by the blockage of hair follicles. {for more elaboration, please refer to [Common Skin Disorder (Acne)] }

• Blackhead- one of the two types of acne. It occurs when the comedo is opened, meaning that it comes to contact with the air on the skin surface which turns the comedo black due to the skin pigment

• Whitehead- the other type of acne. It occurs when the trapped sebum produces a whitish bump below the skin surface

• Eczema- a skin disorder that causes itchiness and inflammation on epidermis (first layer of skin)

• Woodcutters Eczema- aka. "cedar poisoning," caused by the overexposure to lichen acids

• Skin Cancer- the most common form of human cancer which is developed from the uncontrollable growth of cancer cells in the epidermis. It is caused by the overexposure to UV rays and tanning booths

• Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)- the most common type of skin cancer that is treatable with standard surgery