Skin regeneration and repaircédric BlanpainDifferent types of stem cell maintain the skin’s epidermis and contribute to its healing after damage
The identity of a stem-cell type that gives rise to different epidermal-cell lineages has just been revealed
Skin acts as an essential barrier, protecting organisms from their environment
It is composed of two parts: the epidermis, the cells of which form the barrier; and the dermis, which provides support and nutrition to the epidermis
The epidermis also produces appendages, including sweat glands, and hair follicles and their associated sebaceous glands
The different epidermal compartments undergo constant cellular turn over to replace the dead or damaged cells
This homeostatic process is thought to involve several types of stem cell, each