Understanding everything about the skin: adult vs child

Why is it so important to pay attention to the care products applied to children's skin? Why is children's skin more sensitive? In this article, you will discover all the secrets of the skin.

The composition of the skin

The skin is made up of several layers:

•  The epidermis : It is the surface layer of the skin, it consists of two parts: the corneal layer (in contact with the external environment and containing cells called keratinocytes) and the basal layer (containing melanocytes, cells that produce melanin responsible for tanning in summer).  
•  The dermis : Located under the epidermis, it contains the nerve endings (responsible for the perception of touch), the sweat glands (responsible for the production of sweat), the sebaceous glands (responsible for the secretion of sebum: fatty liquid hydrating the skin but often At the origin of imperfections such as blackheads and acne), hair follicles (more commonly called hairs) and blood vessels.  
•  Hypodermis : Located under the dermis, it is a layer of protective fat insulating heat and cold.

Children's fragile skin

Before 2 years, babies' skin is fragile, sensitive and immature compared to that of adults. The three layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) are much thinner than that of an adult with a less developed collagen network. This has several consequences:

• A less protective skin barrier making it more permeable and likely to be subject to external aggressions: bacteria, inflammatory reactions in front of certain assets (allergens)

• Faster water evaporation Resounding dry skin (production of sebum and sweat in smaller quantity, not allowing to retain water)

*Collagen is a protein naturally present in our skin which determines its structure, strength and resistance.

 Thus, children's skin is more vulnerable to external factors, in particular drought and allergic reactions caused by certain ingredients, which are more likely to occur in relation to the skin of an adult

Children's skin and UVs

The skin of babies is also very sensitive to UV rays, and direct exposure to the sun increases the risk of sunburn and the development of skin cancer. This sensitivity is due to several factors:

• Their skin synthesizes less melanin, the natural pigment which offers a slight protection against UV.

• Their thinner skin lets the UV rays penetrate more easily.

Thus, it is not recommended to directly exhibit children in the sun, especially before the age of one year. We must always favor shadow, use sunscreen with a minimum SPF 50, and make them wear light anti-UV type clothes.

In addition to effectively protect the skin from the whole family, it is essential to choose suitable and respectful products. Find out how my day accompanies you in this choice thanks to our range natural care. 

To go further, see also "Know everything about babies' skin"!

The Monjour team