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Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides support for people dealing with cancer. We can connect you with trained cancer information specialists who will answer questions about a cancer diagnosis and provide guidance and a compassionate ear.
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At our National Cancer Information Center trained Cancer Information Specialists can answer questions 24 hours a day, every day of the year to empower you with accurate, up-to-date information to help you make educated health decisions. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with valuable services and resources.
Or ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
Skin is made up of three layers—the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis— and acts as a protective barrier between internal structures and the outside world.
The epidermis is the outermost layer and is mostly made of keratinocytes to form the skin’s protective barrier. The epidermis also contains melanocytes which control skin color and protects other skin cells from DNA damage by absorbing UV rays.
The dermis is the skin’s thickest layer. It provides support and contains nerve endings, sweat glands, oil glands, hair follicles, blood vessels, and lymph vessels.
The hypodermis (also called the subcutaneous layer) is a layer of fat and connective tissue below the dermis.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Revised: December 13, 2022
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