The water content of the skin varies but for the epidermis it is approximately 80%, this is the same water content as in other cells. The very surface of the skin, the stratum corneum, is made up of dead skin cells and this layer is much drier, with the water content varying between 10-30%.
The stratum corneum, when it is dry, will tend to lose its luster and produce what we know as dry skin. In normal circumstances there will be movement of water from the dermis up through the more superficial layers of the skin, the water then in turn will evaporate.
Skin that has low water content will dry and fissure, this makes it more prone to both bacterial and fungal infection. Moisturizers are designed to reduce water loss from the epidermis.
Read the complete article here:
http://www.skincareguide.ca/skincare_basics/moisturizers/overview_skin_moisturizers.html
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