What are dead skin cells?

Dead skin cells are the old parts of your skin that fall off when you shed your skin.

Imagine your skin is like a blanket made up of tiny tiles, each tile is a skin cell. When these tiles get worn out, they stop working and become dead skin cells. Just like how you might take off an old sweater to wear something new, your body takes off the old tiles (dead skin cells) so fresh ones can come to the top.

What do dead skin cells look like?

Sometimes, you can see them, especially on your face or hands. They might feel rough or look flaky, kind of like when a cookie gets too dry and starts to crack.

Why do we get rid of them?

Your body sheds dead skin cells all the time so new ones can take their place. This is why your skin stays healthy and shiny, it's always getting a little make-over!

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Examples

  1. A kid peels off a band-aid and notices flakes on their hand.
  2. Your face feels rough after not washing it for days.
  3. You notice flaky patches on your arms in the winter.

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Categories: Science · skin· body care· health