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A B M P m e m b e r s ea r n F R E E C E h o u r s by rea d i n g t h i s i s s u e ! 73 Notes 1. Skin thickness varies over the surface of the body, as well as from person to person, ranging from less than 1 mm on the eyelids to up to 5 mm on the upper back. Skin thickness changes as we age, reaching maximum thickness at around age 20 and thinning over time as we continue to age. Environmental factors such as sun exposure and smoking create damage and accelerate the thinning of the skin. (Pawlina 2023, Wong 2015). 2. Amanda Zimmerman, Lijun Bai, and David D. Ginty, "The Gentle Touch Receptors of Mammalian Skin," Science 346, no. 6212 (November 21, 2014): 950–54, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1254229. Nicole Trombley and Rachelle Clauson, massage therapists, authors, teachers, and co-directors of AnatomySCAPES, lead you beneath the surface in their highly interactive Dissection Lab Workshops and online continuing education courses for hands-on professionals. They help you discover what real anatomy looks and feels like, and how it moves and relates to its surroundings. Find out more about the skin in their fascia-focused online courses "Skin: The Epidermis" and "Skin: The Dermis." ABMP members save 20 percent at anatomyscapes.com/ABMP. RESOURCES Lyman, M. Remarkable Life of Skin: An Intimate Journey Across Our Surface. S. L.: Black Swan, 2020. Pawlina, W. Histology: A Text and Atlas. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2023. Wong, R. et al. "The Dynamic Anatomy and Patterning of Skin." Experimental Dermatology 25, no. 2 (February 2016): 92–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.12832. Zimmerman, A., Ling B., and D. D. Ginty. "The Gentle Touch Receptors of Mammalian Skin." Science 346, no. 6212 (November 21, 2014): 950–4. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1254229. ANATOMY FOR TOUCH Let's Explore Check out the authors' additional resources at abmp.com/anatomy. WATCH VIDEO "SKIN: THE FIRST MILLIMETERS OF EVERY MASSAGE" AnatomySCAPES Meets Rebel Massage AnatomySCAPES is joining forces with Rebel Massage therapist Allison Denney for "Journey into the MATRIX: the Fascial System." This multidimensional learning experience includes three full days in the dissection lab, in the classroom, and at the massage tables. Join them February 27–29, 2024, in San Diego and start developing the "X-ray vision" that comes from seeing real fascia anatomy. Go to anatomyscapes.com/MATRIX to apply today. DIVING DEEPER: DERMIS Just beneath the epidermis lies the busy, 1–4 millimeters where the real action happens in the skin, the dermis. This thicker, highly vascular, and lymph-rich dermis serves as the lifeline to the paper-thin, avascular epidermis by keeping it nourished and physically anchored to the body. The deepest part of the dermis is densely packed with strong collagen fibers and stretchy elastic fibers that allow the skin to be stretched and compressed with resiliency as we move, touch, and are touched. Every deep compression, skin rolling, or shearing massage stroke relies on the resilience of the dermis. Nestled among the interwoven collagen fibers, we find specialized sensory mechanoreceptors, including Ruffini corpuscles, which perceive skin stretch, and Pacinian corpuscles, which detect vibration, texture, and pressure. Connecting strokes that soothe, push, and pull the skin activate these nerves. No matter how deep your focus, remember you are always touching highly perceptive skin! WHY WE CARE As massage therapists, our primary focus often revolves around the deeper tissues—the muscles, fasciae, tendons, and joints. It's easy to forget about the skin itself, aside from how much lotion or oil is needed to get the glide or grip we want. However, the skin is an integral part of every massage, inf luencing the overall impact on our client's experience. Skin deserves our attention.