How Your Skin Tans

First things first. A basic 101 on the facts about our skin:

• Skin is the largest organ of the human body.
• Our skin is basically divided into 3 layers:
  • Epidermis ("Epi" means "Upper")
  • Dermis
  • Subcutaneous layer
  • The epidermis is where the tanning activity takes place.
  • Three main types of cells found in the epidermis are:
    • Basal Cells - Parent cells for the epidermis
    • Keratinocytes - Produce a substance called "keratin," a fibourous protein that provides structure to the epidermis.
    • Melanocytes - Produce "melanosomes," which are cells that contain melanin, the pigment that turns brown with exposure UV light.