SKIN SCIENCE

Your skin is made of 3 primary layers: the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous.

The epidermis is made up of 5 sublayers. Starting from the outside and working in, there is the stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, and stratum germinativum or basal layer.

The stratum corneum consists of tightly packed, scalelike cells which are continually being exfoliated and replaced. The stratum lucidum consists of small, transparent cells through which light can pass. The stratum lucidum is only present on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The stratum granulosum consists of cells that look like distinct granules. The stratum spinosum is often classified with the stratum germinativum to form the basal layer. The stratum germinativum is composed of a single layer of cells. The stratum germinativum (basal layer) is responsible for the growth of the epidermis and is where your skin produces melanin.

When your skin looks dry and dull it is often due to an accumulation of dead skin cells from the stratum corneum. By eliminating this dead skin cell buildup and providing the nourishment your skin needs through using Visual Changes® Designer Peels®, Visual Changes® Designer Depigmenting Treatments®, and Visual Changes® Home Care Products, your skin will look and feel younger, healthier, hydrated, and radiant.

Clogged pores are partly due to a condition called retention hyperkeratosis whereby the pores become clogged with dead skin cells and oil (sebum) which can lead to blemishes such as blackheads, pimples, and/or cysts. Visual Changes® Professional Treatments and Home Care Products help eliminate dead skin cell buildup and oil and provide antibacterial and immune-stimulating ingredients to help keep your skin healthy and blemish-free.

The basal layer of the epidermis is where your skin produces melanin. Melanin is a brown pigment that gives your skin color. When stimulated by ultraviolet light or other inflammatory stimuli, your skin produces more melanin. From a medical point of view, the extra melanin is used to protect your DNA, thereby helping to prevent skin cancer and premature aging. However, over-exposure to ultraviolet light may cause skin cancer and pre-mature aging. From a cosmetic point of view, accumulations of melanin become unsightly brown spots and are referred to as hyperpigmentation. Visual Changes® has developed Designer Depigmenting Treatments® and Home Care Products to help fade existing areas of hyperpigmentation and inhibit new areas from forming, thus resulting in a more even-colored, younger-looking complexion.

Underneath the epidermis is the dermis. Unlike the epidermis, which is made mostly of cells, the dermis is comprised primarily of connective tissue fibers called collagen and elastin. This strong network actually supports the epidermis. Through its many blood vessels, the dermis also nourishes the epidermis. Collagen is what keeps your skin plump and wrinkle-free. Elastin is what provides elasticity to keep your skin firm. Fibroblasts synthesize collagen and elastin. As you age, fibroblasts diminish in size, slow in metabolic activity and have a low turnover rate. If you damage your skin with sun exposure, the fibroblasts often grow erratically large and produce defective collagen. Aging and sunlight also have a direct effect on collagen and elastin by causing them to break down leading to early signs of aging. Using Visual Changes® Designer Peels® and Visual Changes® Home Care Products, helps fibroblasts begin to produce new, healthy collagen and elastin in the dermis improving skin firmness and diminishing wrinkles.