Skin Care Related Terms that begin with the letter S

sebaceous – relating to sebum

sebum – an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands

skin – cutis; membranous tissue forming the external covering or integument of an animal. Consists of 3 layers; the epidermis, the dermis and the fat layer. A very important organ of the body that performs the following functions: regulation of body temperature, provide sensory perceptions, acts as the body’s external barrier against dirt, germs and the elements, and prevent the loss of moisture from the body.

skin tone – is the color of your skin. This is determined by the amount of melanin (pigment) in your skin. The more melanin in your skin the darker it is.

skin type – this refers to whether your skin is normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive, etc.

SPF – Sun Protection Factor. SPF describes the increased allowable time of sun exposure before your particular skin type burns. For example, if your skin usually burns in 10 minutes under certain conditions using a SPF 15 product would mean it would take 15 x 10 minutes = 150 minutes or 2 and ½ hours for your skin to burn in those same conditions. It is important to remember that we usually don’t use as much sunscreen as they use in the labs to get these SPF ratings. In other words, we don’t usually get as much protection as we actually think we are. In lab conditions the average person would use a 120 mL (4 fl. oz.) bottle in an 8 hour period. The average person does not use near this amount in the real world.

stratum corneum – the outermost layer of the epidermis. This layer is made up of dead and dying cells filled with mature keratin. The outermost cells of this layer eventually slough off in a process called desquamation.

stratum germinativum – stratum basale epidermidis; the bottom layer of the epidermis containing the germinal (or basal) cells necessary for the regeneration of the epidermis. These cells mature as the move to the surface of the skin in a process called keratinization.

stratum granulosum – the middle layer of the epidermis. Accumulates lipids and functions to prevent the loss of moisture from the body.

stratum lucidum – the layer of the epidermis just below the stratum corneum. This layer is thicher on the hands and feet where frictional forces on the skin are much stronger than elsewhere.

stratum spinosum – layer of the epidermis above the stratum germinativum; known as the prickle cell layer of the epidermis due to the accumulation of desmosomes on their outer surface.

supple – readily bent, pliant, adaptable