As diverse as the Swiss sun is, people’s reactions to it are just as varied. Every skin is
different and absorbs the sun in its very own way. Whether light or dark skin type, children’s skin or skin with special needs.
But one thing is true for all: our skin is not a simple covering that renews itself arbitrarily, but a highly complex organ that performs a variety of functions: It regulates body temperature through sweating and also protects us, among other things, from fluid loss, injuries, the intrusion of germs, and UV rays. At the same time, the skin produces the essential vitamin D for our survival.
In order to perform all these functions — being once dense and impermeable (e.g., for germs) and once permeable (e.g., for temperature regulation) — our skin is very complex in structure. Simply put, it consists of three layers: the outer epidermis (epidermis), the underlying dermis (dermis), and beneath that, the subcutaneous tissue or hypodermis.
The epidermis, or outer layer, is the thinnest of the three layers and, depending on the part of the body, can be less than 0.1 mm thick. It forms the outer protective barrier of our skin and consists of dead, keratinized cells that completely renew themselves about every 4 weeks.
The dermis, or deep layer, located beneath the epidermis, is much thicker and contains connective tissue fibers (collagen and elastin), which provide both the elasticity and firmness of our skin. The breakdown of these fibers with age and due to external influences, such as UV rays, is a key reason for skin aging. The dermis also ensures the blood circulation of our skin and contains nerve fibers and sweat glands.
The subcutis, or subcutaneous fat tissue, consists of connective tissue and fat cells and serves as insulation against cold, an energy reserve, and a shock absorber. This is as deep as the sun's rays penetrate into our skin.
