Dermis

The dermis (the skins majority) is comprised of collagen and connective tissue. Collagen is a fibrous protein produced by fibroblast cells scattered throughout the dermis and is responsible for most of the skin's mechanical strength.

Blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves and sensory receptors are embedded in the dermis, as are hair follicles (including their muscles), sweat glands and oil glands, formed from specialised epidermal cells that penetrate the dermis.

The sebaceous glands are responsible for the excretion of the skin's natural oil (sebum). There are two types of sweat glands. The apocrine sweat glands fail to open directly onto the skin surface, but drain into large hair follicles. They are located near the armpits and around the genitalia, while the second type, the eccrine sweat glands, are distributed over the skins entire surface. The secretion of the apocrine differs to that of the eccrine; it is thick and creamy in contrast to the watery solution of the eccrine glands. These glands aid in the removal of dirt and oil from the pores, help to regulate body temperature and also maintain the skin's PH balance.