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THE MADAM C. J. WALKER SCHOOLS

But at the exposed and more important parts the skin is very sensitive to heat, cold, pain, etc.

SECRETORY AND EXCRETORY

4. Perspiration and oil secreted and excreted by the glands keep the skin soft and pliable.  By expelling some of the poison and waste of the body the skin is an important organ of elimination.

ABSORPTIVE

5. The skin, to a limited extent, absorbs oxygen to enrich the blood and throws off carbon dioxide.

COLOR OF THE SKIN - The color of the skin differs in the several races of the human family and in some individuals of the same race.  This is due to the coloring matter in the pigment (or color) cells found in the fourth layer of the outer skin.  Persons of dark complexion have an abundance of these pigment cells.  The blood supply in the tiny hairlike vessels neat the surface of the skin, the age of the individual, exposure to light, air and extremes of temperature also have a marked effect on the color of the skin.  Skin color is often affected by certain diseases, for example yellow jaundice, anemia, albinism, etc.

DIVISIONS OF THE SKIN - The skin is divided into two main layers:
The Outer Layer
Called EPIDERMIS
Cuticle
or Scarf Skin

The Inner Layer 
CORIUM, DERMIS
Cutis
or
True Skin

The Epidermis, also known as EPITHELIUM, is divided into four layers.

LAYERS OF THE EPIDERMIS OR SCARF SKIN:

1. STRATUM CORNEUM - The hard, horny outer layers that are constantly shed and replaced by the cells below.
2. STRATUM LUCIDUM - The clear, glistening, thin layer.
3. STRATUM GRANULOSUM - The layer of course flattened cells.
4. STRATUM MUCOSUM - The innermost and most active layer of the epidermis, consisting of several layers of cells, among which are the pigment of color cells.

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TEXT BOOK OF BEAUTY CULTURE

The Dermis or Corium is divided into two layers.  It is highly sensitive.

LAYERS OF THE CORIUM OR TRUE SKIN

1. PAPILLARY LAYER - Lies nearest the epidermis and contains the papilla, or conical elevations that protrude up into the epidermis, which is moulded over them.  These papillae consist of small bundles of fibers that give the skin its sense of touch.  They are especially well developed where the sense of touch is acute.  

2. RETICULAR OR DEEPER LAYER - Lies farthest from the epidermis and rests upon the SUB-CUTIS or Subcutaneous tissue.  In this layer are found interlacing bands of fat cells, blood vessels, lymphatics, oil and sweat glands, and hair follicles.  On some parts of the body, as on the front of the neck, this layer of tissue is connected with that beneath it rather loosely and is moveable; on other parts of the body, as on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, the connection is close and firm. 

SUB-CUTIS or SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE connects the Dermis with the tissue beneath.  It is made up of fibrous connections in the bundles which cross and form spaces.  Almost throughout the body these spaces contain fat.

BLOOD VESSELS- The blood vessels of the body vary in size and number.  They are largest in those parts of the skin exposed to the greatest pressure as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and the buttocks.  They form a network in the subcutaneous tissue and send branches to the papillae, the hair follicles, and the superiferous glands, located in the corium.

LYMPHATICS - There is a superficial and deep network of lymphatics in the skin.  They originate in the cell spaces of the tissues. 

NERVES - The skin contains the end organs of many nerve fibers.  Forming a dense network in the surface layer of the corium, they extend up into the epidermis and end in receptors which are affected by touch, warmth, cold, pressure, pain, etc., etc.  Through this network of nerve filaments control of the flow of blood to the skin is affected, as when heat is applied to the skin, the blood vessels expand, take in more blood and the skin becomes red.  Under the influence of cold, the blood vessels contract and less blood is delivered to the cells, hence one is said to look pale under such conditions.

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