What layer of the skin is just below the surface?

The dermis is the skin layer just below the surface epidermis. Together, the epidermis and dermis make up the cutis, while the deeper subcutaneous tissue lies beneath them.

The epidermis forms the outer barrier and is made largely of cells called keratinocytes. The dermis is thicker connective tissue that supports and nourishes the epidermis. It contains collagen and elastic fibres, blood vessels, nerves, sensory receptors, hair follicles, sweat glands and sebaceous glands. These structures explain why the dermis is important for strength, stretch, sensation and temperature regulation.

The dermis has two main regions: the superficial papillary dermis and the deeper reticular dermis. Fingerprints are produced by ridges associated with the dermal papillae at the junction between the dermis and epidermis. A common mix-up is calling the epidermis the “skin below the surface”; technically, the epidermis is the surface layer, and the dermis is immediately beneath it. “Dermis” is therefore the single canonical answer.