The dermis is the second and thickest layer of the three majorlayers of skin, located between theepidermisandsubcutaneous tissues, also known as the subcutis and thehypodermis.
The skin was previously viewed as abody part that protects us from the elements. Today, new knowledge informs us that the layers of the skin are actually very complex and have many important functions—from giving us goosebumps and cooling us down in the sauna to letting our brain know that our hand is on a burner. Let’s learn more about how this layer is structured and what it does for us.
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Anatomy and Structure
The dermis has two parts: a thin, upper layer known as the papillary dermis, and a thick, lower layer known as the reticular dermis. Its thickness varies depending on the location of the skin. For example, the dermis on the eyelids is 0.6 millimeters thick; on the back, the palms of hands and the soles of feet, it measures 3 millimeters thick.
The dermis contains a lot of the body’s water supply and it has important roles in both regulating temperature and providing blood to the epidermis.
Structures found in the dermis include:Connective tissues, specifically collagen and elastinBlood capillaries (the smallest of blood vessels) and other small vesselsLymph vesselsSweat glandsSebaceous glands(oil glands)—best known for its tendency of becoming clogged and causing the dreaded white heads of acne, it actually plays an important role in protecting the bodyNerve endingsHair follicles—the body contains close to 2 million hair follicles
Structures found in the dermis include:
Tissue Composition
The dermis is composed of three types of tissues that are present throughout the dermis rather than in layers:
The papillary layer, the upper layer of the dermis, contains a thin arrangement of collagen fibers. The lower layer, known as the reticular layer, is thicker and made of thick collagen fibers that are arranged parallel to the surface of the skin.
Roles It Plays
The dermis is the thickest layer of skin and arguably the most important. It plays several key roles, including:
Interactions With the Epidermis
Not only does the dermis have complex functions, but it is in constant contact and communication with the epidermis, regulating important bodily processes.
Cells in the epidermis influence the dermis, which in turn influence the turnover of cells in the epidermis (via activities of cells such as mast cells, which secrete cytokines). It is the interaction of these two layers that is, in fact, most disrupted in some conditions such as psoriasis.
Aging Process
Many people wonder about what causes the skin to wrinkle and age. There are several important changes in all three layers of our skin as we age.
The dermal layer becomes thinner with age as less collagen is produced.Elastin wears out—becoming less elastic just as the elastic waistband in a pair of shorts may lose its elasticity. This is what leads to wrinkling and sagging.
The sebaceous glands produce less sebum while the sweat glands produce less sweat, both contributing to the skin dryness characteristic of aging.
The surface area or amount of contact between the dermis and epidermis also decreases. This results in less blood being made available from the dermis to the epidermis and fewer nutrients making it to this outer layer of skin. This flattening out of the connecting region also makes the skin more fragile.
Skin Elasticity: What It Is and How to Protect It
Tumors
Just as abnormal growths in the epidermis give rise to the all-too-common skin cancers, tumors can arise from the dermal layer of the skin as well. One type of tumor which begins in the dermis is called adermatofibroma(or benign fibrous histiocytoma.)These fairly common tumors often occur on the legs of middle-aged women. It’s not known what exactly causes these tumors, but they frequently occur following some form of trauma.
Protection
Just as it’s important to protect your epidermis from too much sun, it’s important to protect your dermis as well. Sun exposure damages collagen (and causes changes in elastin), which can result in premature wrinkling.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gartner L.Textbook of Histology (Fourth Edition).Elsevier. 2016.Gawkrodger DJ, Arden-Jones MR.Dermatology E-Book: An Illustrated Colour Text (Sixth Edition).Elsevier. 2017.TeensHealth from Nemours.Why Do I Get Acne?American Academy of Dermatology Association.What Kids Should Know About The Layers Of Skin.Kobielak A, Boddupally K.Junctions and inflammation in the skin.Cell Commun Adhes. 2014;21(3):141-7. doi:10.3109/15419061.2014.905930Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against Skin Aging: The Way from Bench to Bedside.Cell Transplant. 2018;27(5):729-738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755US National Library of Medicine.Aging Changes in Skin.Han TY, Chang HS, Lee JH, Lee WM, Son SJ.A clinical and histopathological study of 122 cases of dermatofibroma (benign fibrous histiocytoma).Ann Dermatol. 2011;23(2):185-92. doi:10.5021/ad.2011.23.2.185MedlinePlus.Hormones.Harvard Health Publishing.Wondering About Goosebumps? Of Course You Are.Additional ReadingKumar, Vinay, Abul K. Abbas, Jon C. Aster, and James A. Perkins. Robbins and Cotran. Pathologic Basis of Disease. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders. 2015.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gartner L.Textbook of Histology (Fourth Edition).Elsevier. 2016.Gawkrodger DJ, Arden-Jones MR.Dermatology E-Book: An Illustrated Colour Text (Sixth Edition).Elsevier. 2017.TeensHealth from Nemours.Why Do I Get Acne?American Academy of Dermatology Association.What Kids Should Know About The Layers Of Skin.Kobielak A, Boddupally K.Junctions and inflammation in the skin.Cell Commun Adhes. 2014;21(3):141-7. doi:10.3109/15419061.2014.905930Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against Skin Aging: The Way from Bench to Bedside.Cell Transplant. 2018;27(5):729-738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755US National Library of Medicine.Aging Changes in Skin.Han TY, Chang HS, Lee JH, Lee WM, Son SJ.A clinical and histopathological study of 122 cases of dermatofibroma (benign fibrous histiocytoma).Ann Dermatol. 2011;23(2):185-92. doi:10.5021/ad.2011.23.2.185MedlinePlus.Hormones.Harvard Health Publishing.Wondering About Goosebumps? Of Course You Are.Additional ReadingKumar, Vinay, Abul K. Abbas, Jon C. Aster, and James A. Perkins. Robbins and Cotran. Pathologic Basis of Disease. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders. 2015.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gartner L.Textbook of Histology (Fourth Edition).Elsevier. 2016.Gawkrodger DJ, Arden-Jones MR.Dermatology E-Book: An Illustrated Colour Text (Sixth Edition).Elsevier. 2017.TeensHealth from Nemours.Why Do I Get Acne?American Academy of Dermatology Association.What Kids Should Know About The Layers Of Skin.Kobielak A, Boddupally K.Junctions and inflammation in the skin.Cell Commun Adhes. 2014;21(3):141-7. doi:10.3109/15419061.2014.905930Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against Skin Aging: The Way from Bench to Bedside.Cell Transplant. 2018;27(5):729-738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755US National Library of Medicine.Aging Changes in Skin.Han TY, Chang HS, Lee JH, Lee WM, Son SJ.A clinical and histopathological study of 122 cases of dermatofibroma (benign fibrous histiocytoma).Ann Dermatol. 2011;23(2):185-92. doi:10.5021/ad.2011.23.2.185MedlinePlus.Hormones.Harvard Health Publishing.Wondering About Goosebumps? Of Course You Are.
Gartner L.Textbook of Histology (Fourth Edition).Elsevier. 2016.
Gawkrodger DJ, Arden-Jones MR.Dermatology E-Book: An Illustrated Colour Text (Sixth Edition).Elsevier. 2017.
TeensHealth from Nemours.Why Do I Get Acne?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.What Kids Should Know About The Layers Of Skin.
Kobielak A, Boddupally K.Junctions and inflammation in the skin.Cell Commun Adhes. 2014;21(3):141-7. doi:10.3109/15419061.2014.905930
Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against Skin Aging: The Way from Bench to Bedside.Cell Transplant. 2018;27(5):729-738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755
US National Library of Medicine.Aging Changes in Skin.
Han TY, Chang HS, Lee JH, Lee WM, Son SJ.A clinical and histopathological study of 122 cases of dermatofibroma (benign fibrous histiocytoma).Ann Dermatol. 2011;23(2):185-92. doi:10.5021/ad.2011.23.2.185
MedlinePlus.Hormones.
Harvard Health Publishing.Wondering About Goosebumps? Of Course You Are.
Kumar, Vinay, Abul K. Abbas, Jon C. Aster, and James A. Perkins. Robbins and Cotran. Pathologic Basis of Disease. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders. 2015.
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