Abstract
The skin is the body’s largest organ and consists of two
layers with different embryologic origins. The epidermis is
derived from ectoderm; it consists of layers of epithelial
cells that mature from the basal layer to the surface and
finally desquamate, a process taking two to four weeks. The
dermis originates from the mesoderm and is on an average
10 times thicker than the epidermis. The dermis consists
primarily of fibroblasts that produce the extracellular
matrix, especially collagen and elastin; cells of this type
confer elasticity to the skin.