Have you ever wondered why you can’t wash your face with body wash? Why does the cosmetics industry create products for the face and the body separately? Is there really any difference between facial skin and body skin? Or are they attempting to manipulate you into purchasing more items?
Well, you are not alone!
The thing is, your facial skin is extremely different from the rest of your body’s skin in terms of texture, thickness, and sensitivity. To build a comprehensive skin care regimen, you must fully understand your skin. In this article, we will look at how your facial skin differs from the rest of your body. However, you must first learn all about the skin in detail. Keep reading to find out more!
Your skin is comprised of three layers (1):
Fun Fact
The skin on your entire body renews itself every month (28 days). Some of the accumulated dust in your home space may actually be dead skin cells!
The epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis on your face are different from those on the rest of your body. Let’s find out how.
Let’s proceed layer by layer!
The epidermis of your skin has several sublayers, including stratum basale and stratum corneum (2). These sublayers have different types of cells that are responsible for a variety of functions, such as the protective effects of the epidermis and your skin tone. The cells include keratinocytes, melanocytes, merkel cells, and langerhans (3).
These cells are not evenly distributed on your face and body. The epidermis of your face is thinner than the epidermis of your body due to uneven cell distribution. Therefore, there are things you should never put on your face that you can use for your body, such as body lotion, hair spray, etc. Let’s take a look to understand the difference between the epidermis of the face and the body.
· Palms and soles contain 23-71 layers.
· The genitals contain 4-8 layers.
Melanocytes· Melanin levels are high.· Contains 15 melanocytes per square millimeter because your face is exposed more to the sun than your body.
· Melanin levels are low (not in areas that are frequently exposed to the sun, such as hands).· Contains 15 melanocytes per square millimeter.
LangerhansThe concentration of these cells is unknown.The concentration of these cells is unknown.Merkel CellsThe concentration of these cells is unknown.The concentration of these cells is unknown, but they are found in genitals, torso, and limbs.The dermis makes your skin elastic and gives it strength as it contains elastic and fibrous tissues. Apart from that, the dermis also contains:
Trivia
There are about 300 sweat glands per square inch of your skin.
· Eccrine glands – Approximately 320 per sq. cm on the cheeks and 360 per sq. cm on the forehead.
· Apocrine glands – found in the areola, armpits, and perineum (the area between your genitals and anus).· Eccrine glands – 620 per sq. cm on the soles, 300 per sq. cm on palms, 65 per sq. cm on the back, and 120 per sq. cm on the thighs.
Blood VesselsMore blood vesselsFewer blood vesselsSebaceous Glands· Abundant on the scalp and face (about 900 glands per sq. cm)· Smaller.
· Found all over the body, except for the soles, palms, and some parts of the genitals.· The sebaceous glands on your back are large.
Hair Follicles· Before puberty,both men and women have vellus hair.
· During puberty,
women retain their vellus hair, while it turns to terminal hair in men.
· Before puberty, vellus hair is found all over the body. Women retain it on their chest and back.· During puberty, vellus hair is replaced by terminal hair. Men get terminal hair on the legs, arms, chest, and abdomen.
The hypodermis is the innermost layer of your skin and a storehouse of fat cells that protect your body from heat and cold.
It also contains adipose tissue (a type of fatty tissue) that your body uses when it faces a caloric deficit (6).
Generally, in females, the hypodermis is the thickest in areas such as buttocks, thighs, and hips. In males, it is the thickest in the thighs and the abdomen. However, when it comes to the face, both men and women have thick hypodermis deposits in their cheeks.
If you touch the skin on your face, scalp, armpits, hands, and feet, you can feel the difference. That is the reason each body part demands specific skin care products and a daily skin care routine.
The skin on your face
The skin on your scalp
The skin on your armpits
The skin on your hands
The skin on your feet
Exfoliation is a vital step in any skincare routine, irrespective of skin type or location. However, knowing how to exfoliate your skin properly and committing to doing it regularly is crucial to keeping your skin soft and supple. There are basic steps to it that you must know and follow to have good skin anywhere on the body or face.
The skin on your face and body has different requirements. Your face’s epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis differ from those on the rest of your body. It is a common misconception that a product that works in one area will also work in others. The products designed for your body will not work on your face! Since the skin on your face is considerably thinner than the skin on the rest of your body, it requires a gentler skin care routine. It would be ideal if you could use a “one-size-fits-all” remedy for all of your skin concerns, but these are difficult to come by. Now you know why!
Is the skin on your neck the same as on your face?
No. The skin on your neck is thinner than the skin on your face. It has less collagen and is more prone to sun damage than the facial skin.
Is underarm skin thin?
Yes. The underarm skin is relatively thin and sensitive.
Is scalp skin the same as face skin?
No. The scalp skin has more sebaceous glands, hair follicles, and blood vessels than the facial skin.
Can I use body lotion on my face?
It’s not recommended to use body lotion on your face, as it may be too thick or contain ingredients that can clog pores or irritate sensitive skin. Face lotions are lightweight and specially formulated for delicate facial skin.
What should I use for sensitive facial skin?
For sensitive facial skin, choose products labeled as hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and gentle. Look for soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, or calendula, and avoid harsh chemicals or alcohol-based products.
Delve deeper into the science of human skin. Watch this video to discover the amazing functions of our largest organ and how it helps keep us healthy.
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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker
Dr. Veerula (Dr. V) is a diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons. She is an energetic, proactive, and compassionate medical practitioner with 5 years of experience and a thorough understanding of overall mind-body-spiritual wellness.
Read full bio of Dr. Vindhya L Veerula
Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.
Read full bio of Ramona Sinha
Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru.
Read full bio of Eshna Das
Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti