Skin Explained: Understanding Your Skin in Grand Rapids, MI

Your skin is soft enough to allow easy movement, yet tough enough to resist breaking or tearing. It changes in texture and thickness from one part of your body to another.

For example, the skin on your lips and eyelids is very thin and delicate, while the skin on the soles of your feet is thicker and more protective. In a city like Grand Rapids, where we experience cold, dry winters and humid summers, your skin also changes with the seasons.

Healthy skin is often a reflection of your overall health. Many illnesses, dehydration, and even stress can show up first in your skin.

Skin: One of Our Most Versatile Organs

Your skin is the largest organ in your body and performs many essential functions that help keep you healthy in Grand Rapids’ changing climate.

Some key functions of the skin include:

  • Working as a sense organ that helps you feel:
    • Pain
    • Pleasure
    • Temperature (hot and cold)
    • Pressure and touch
  • Acting as a waterproof barrier for your entire body
  • Serving as the first line of defense against bacteria, viruses, and other harmful organisms
  • Helping cool your body through sweat
  • Protecting you from UV radiation with skin pigment (melanin)

The outer layer you can see is called the epidermis.

The Epidermis: Your Protective Outer Layer

The epidermis is made up of several layers (“sheets”) of cells:

  • The bottom layer is where new skin cells are made.
  • As new cells form, older cells are pushed upward.
  • The old, dead skin cells eventually flake off from the surface and are replaced.

The epidermis also contains melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color. In West Michigan, where sunlight levels change dramatically with the seasons, melanin plays an important role in protecting your skin from sun damage—especially in summer, at the beach on Lake Michigan or during outdoor activities along the Grand River.

Under the Epidermis: The Dermis

Beneath the epidermis is the dermis, a thicker, more complex layer of skin. The dermis is made up of:

  • Elastic fibers (elastin) – provide stretch and flexibility
  • Protein fibers (collagen) – provide strength and structure

The dermis contains:

  • Sweat glands – help cool your body, especially during humid Grand Rapids summers or exercise
  • Sebaceous (oil) glands – produce sebum to lubricate and protect the skin
  • Hair follicles – where hair grows
  • Blood vessels – help regulate body temperature and deliver nutrients
  • Nerves – allow you to feel touch, pressure, pain, and temperature

Under the dermis is the subcutis, also called the subcutaneous layer or fat layer.

The Subcutis: Insulation and Protection

The subcutis is a layer of adipose (fat) tissue that sits directly under the dermis. It serves several important functions:

  • Thermal insulation – helps keep you warm in cold Grand Rapids winters
  • Mechanical protection – cushions your muscles, bones, and organs from bumps and falls
  • Body shape and contour – contributes to the smoothness and shape of your body
  • Energy storage – adipose fat is a reserve source of energy for the body

Glands and Blood Vessels in the Skin

The skin’s glands and blood vessels help regulate your body temperature—a key function in Michigan’s four-season climate.

In Hot Weather or After Exercise

  • Blood vessels in the dermis expand (dilate), bringing more warm blood to the skin’s surface.
  • Sweat glands produce sweat, which evaporates from the skin and carries heat away, cooling the body.

In Cold Weather

  • Blood vessels in the dermis contract (constrict), reducing blood flow to the skin.
  • This helps reduce heat loss and keep your core body temperature stable during cold Grand Rapids winters.

Sebaceous (Oil) Glands

  • Located in the dermis and attached to hair follicles
  • Secrete sebum, an oily substance that:
    • Lubricates the skin
    • Helps prevent dryness and cracking
    • Provides a barrier against some bacteria

Hair: Protection and Sensation

Human skin is unique compared to many animals because we do not have a full covering of thick body hair. However, hair still plays important roles.

  • Hair is made of keratin, a tough protein.
  • The amount and thickness of hair varies across the body.

Hairless areas include:

  • Lips
  • Palms of the hands
  • Soles of the feet

Hairier areas include:

  • Scalp
  • Underarms
  • Pubic area in both sexes
  • Face and chest in many men

Hair helps with:

  • Protection (e.g., eyelashes protect the eyes)
  • Temperature regulation
  • Sensation (hair follicles are connected to nerve endings)

Nails: Protection and Support

Nails are formed from modified skin cells.

  • The only living parts of the nail are:
    • The nail bed
    • The nail matrix (under the cuticle)

The Nail Plate

  • What you see as the “nail” is made of dead, hardened keratin cells.
  • Nails help:
    • Protect the tips of your fingers and toes
    • Support fine motor tasks like picking up small objects
    • Provide clues to overall health (changes in color or texture can indicate medical issues)

Nerves in the Skin: Feeling the World Around You

Both the epidermis and dermis contain nerve endings.

These nerves carry information to your brain about:

  • Temperature (hot and cold)
  • Pain
  • Pleasure
  • Pressure and light touch

Some areas have more nerve endings than others, such as:

  • Fingertips
  • Lips
  • Genital area

This is why your fingertips are so sensitive—helpful in daily tasks like typing, using tools, or handling small objects, whether you’re working in a Grand Rapids office, a local hospital, or at home.

Common Skin Problems in Grand Rapids, MI

Residents of Grand Rapids can experience many of the same skin conditions seen across the U.S., but our local climate and lifestyle can influence skin health.

Some common skin problems include:

  • Acne – often related to hormones and excess oil production; can be worsened by stress, sweat, and heavy products
  • Dermatitis (eczema) – inflammation of the skin that can be triggered by dry winter air, allergens, or irritants
  • Viral skin infections – such as warts, caused by viruses
  • Dry skin – especially common in cold, dry Michigan winters when indoor heating reduces humidity
  • Sun damage – from outdoor activities at Lake Michigan beaches, parks, and trails; UV exposure can cause sunburn, premature aging, and increase skin cancer risk

If you notice persistent rashes, new or changing moles, severe acne, or skin infections, it’s important to seek medical advice.

Local Skin Health Resources in Grand Rapids

If you have concerns about your skin, you can access high-quality dermatology and primary care services throughout the Grand Rapids area.

Local resources include:

  • Spectrum Health (Corewell Health) dermatology and primary care clinics
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids outpatient clinics and hospital services
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health dermatology and family medicine
  • Mercy Health clinics offering skin care and general health services
  • Kent County Health Department – public health information, vaccinations, and community health programs
  • Grand Rapids Public Health resources – education on sun safety, infection prevention, and overall wellness

Many local clinics offer same-day or virtual visits, especially helpful for evaluating rashes, acne, or other visible skin concerns.

Protecting Your Skin in West Michigan

To keep your skin healthy in Grand Rapids’ changing seasons:

  • Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), even on cloudy days and in winter
  • Moisturize daily, especially in cold, dry months
  • Avoid very hot showers, which can dry out skin
  • Stay hydrated by drinking enough water
  • Wear appropriate clothing and gloves in winter to protect against wind and cold
  • Check your skin regularly for new or changing spots, moles, or rashes

If you’re unsure about a skin change, contact a local healthcare provider or dermatologist in Grand Rapids for a professional evaluation. Early attention to skin issues can help prevent complications and keep your body’s largest organ healthy and strong.