How Your Subcutaneous Fat Layer Protects You

Question. Do you know what acts as an insulator to help regulate body temperature?

And what pads your body, working as a shock absorber, protecting it from injury?

Or what important tissue gives your skin structural support?

It’s an ait’scinating part of your skin, known as the subcutaneous fat layer.

One that is mainly made up of fat cells, connective tissue, and an elastic protein that helps your tissues return to their normal shape after stretching.

So join us as we go skin deep and discover the fascinating role of your subcutaneous layer.

Understanding Subcutaneous Layer?

The terminology originates from the words subcutaneous in Latin and hypoderm in Greek, both of which means beneath the skin.

We can liken the layers of your skin to an outfit:

1. The epidermis is the sweater, so to speak, the outer layer.
2. Next is the dermis, the middle layer, which is the blouse
3. Finally, there is the subcutaneous, the deepest layer, which is the vest.

So let’s go on this journey further and explore the subcutaneous layer, the deepest layer that rests just above the deep fascia.

The thickness of this layer depends on the area of our body it is in and other factors.

For instance, the tissue is particularly thick around your breasts, buttocks, abdomen, cheeks, thighs, palms and soles of your feet; it is most fragile on your eyelids, lips and nose.

The Subcutaneous Important Functions

• fat cells serve as an energy reserve
• it adheres your skin to the tissues underneath it
• it gives the skin its internal cushioning and encases your organs
• it draws nutrients and oxygen from your bloodstream to feed the whole of your skin
• it’s ait’st insulator, keeping your body warm and stabilising the body temperature
• it is abundant in breasts, hips, thighs and abdomen

The role of the subcutaneous fat layer

Your Subcutaneous fat layer is a vital centre of activity.

It directly affects your complexion and how your skin looks and feels; it provides energy, storage and support for what lies below, helping to give the dermis structure.

Technically, it’s not really skin; it is a layer of fat and connective tissue that lies between your skin and muscles; here, the subcutaneous cells are tightly woven together.

It houses blood and lymphatic vessels and contains interspersed bundles of nerves and fibres.

The cells in the subcutaneous fat layer continually send and receive messages; they deliver nourishment, transport and clean up crews for cuts and infections while producing plump, even contours that we associate with youth and healthy skin.

As you age, your subcutaneous tissue does start to disintegrate.

It becomes less able to protect your bones and organs, so we are more prone to getting injured and feeling the cold.

To conclude. The naked truth

So as we can see, the subcutaneous tissue is the layer between the dermis and the fascia, composed mainly of fat cells.

This fatty tissue preserves neutral fat, cushioning it against external physical pressure, helping retain moisture and generate heat.

A little fat layer around your stomach is not such a bad thing, so please don’t because it is essential for good health.