Deliver oxygen and nutrients, remove waste from skin.

Prepare for the VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skincare Test. Revise with flashcards and multiple choice questions, accompanied by insightful explanations. Ace your assessment with confidence!

Delivering oxygen and nutrients to skin cells and removing waste is done by the skin’s blood vessels. The dermis contains a dense network of capillaries that bring in oxygen and nutrients and carry away carbon dioxide and metabolic wastes. The epidermis has no blood vessels of its own, so it relies on these vessels for nourishment. Nerve endings are for sensation, not nourishment. Dermal papillae help increase surface area for exchange and sit above the capillary network, but the direct delivery and waste removal come from the blood vessels. The hypodermis holds larger vessels and fat, but the key function described is carried out by the dermal blood vessels.