Skin SciencesQuestion 36 of 100
A 55-year-old client asks why her skin looks duller than it did in her twenties even though she exfoliates. What is the best explanation?
a.Melanin production stops entirely after age 50
b.The dermis is shed and replaced every month
c.Exfoliation always thickens the stratum corneum
d.Cell turnover slows with age, so dead cells linger on the surface longer and light reflects less evenly
Explanation
Epidermal cell renewal takes roughly a month in a young adult and slows progressively with age, leaving more dead corneocytes on the surface and creating a dull, rough appearance. Melanin production continues but becomes uneven. The dermis is not shed at all, and appropriate exfoliation reduces rather than thickens surface buildup.
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