Why are the most bacterial infections found on the superficial layers of skin

Question

sometimes people develop bacterial infections on the surface of the skin. Why are the most common bacterial infections found on the superficial layers of skin ?

Answer 1

I would encourage you to read about the defense mechanisms of the integument to get a better idea of how the skin protects the body against invading pathogens. The immune system and the structural components of the integument work together to keep pathogens from penetrating into the deeper tissues of the integument, which is likely why the most common bacterial infections are found on the superficial layers of the skin.

 

See terms:

 

Keratinization of stratified squamous epithelial cells

Rate of cellular turnover (differentiation)

Secretions from sebaceous glands (sweat & sebum)

 

 

Presence of dendritic cells such as:

Langerhans Cells

Melanocytes

Resident T cells

 

I hope this information gets you going in the right direction.