skin knowledge

Skin is the largest organ of the body. It is made up of two layers, the upper 'epidermis' and the lower 'dermis'. The epidermis and the dermis are further divided into other layers.
The lower most layer of the epidermis is known as the basal layer and it contains organelles called 'melanosomes'. These melanosomes contain cells called melanocytes which produce a pigment called 'melanin'. The colour of skin depends mainly on this melanin and the amount of melanin present in the other layers of the epidermis. The thickness of epidermis and vascularity of the epidermis are other factors affecting the colour of skin.