Dermatology and Cosmetic Medicine

Cutaneous Conditions

Human skin is the largest organ of the body. Together with various other components such as glands, fingernails, and hair, it comprises a complex system known as the integumentary system. Cutaneous biology is the study of cellular and molecular biology of human skin and its associated diseases. Human skin performs a number of diverse functions critical to normal human health, including protection from environmental insults such as pathogens, physical damage, and radiation from the sun.

Any medical condition that affects the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, hair, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this system acts as a barrier against the external environment. The two main types of human skin are: glabrous skin, the hairless skin on the palms and soles the other is hair-bearing skin. Within the latter type, the hairs occur in structures called pilosebaceous units each with hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and associated arrector pili muscle. The epidermis is the most superficial layer of skin a squamous epithelium with several strata. The dermis is the layer of skin between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue, and comprises two sections the papillary dermis and the reticular dermis. The subcutaneous tissue is a layer of fat between the dermis and underlying fascia.