Skin is our largest organ with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Adults carry some 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) and 22 square feet (2 square meters) of it. The human skin produces about one million skin cells every 40 minutes, which equates to over 36 million skin cells per day. as our skin cells renew from the deeper layer of the epidermis, the more surface cells harden and lose moisture. Eventually these cells detach from skin and are replaced by younger cells moving up from deeper layers. Desquamation (detaching) also eliminates damaged and contaminated cells that carry pollutants and micro-organisms from the environment. These superficial skin cells don’t always effectively fall from skin and may cause clogging and congestion while leaving the skin’s surface dry and dull looking. As we age, desquamation and cell turnover slow down, making professional exfoliation or chemical pell critical to removing the accumulation of cells that give a dry, dull appearance to the skin.
