Utah Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

From which layer of the skin do hair follicles originate?

1. Epidermis

2. Dermis

3. Hypodermis

4. Subcutaneous

The correct answer is: Dermis

Hair follicles originate from the dermis layer of the skin. The dermis is a deeper layer that contains connective tissue, blood vessels, and hair follicles among other structures. While the epidermis is the outermost layer responsible for skin's protective barrier and does contain some hair-related cells, it is actually the dermis where the hair follicles are formed and housed. The hypodermis and subcutaneous layers are beneath the dermis and primarily consist of fat and connective tissue, serving as insulation and cushioning for the body, but they do not contain the hair follicles themselves. Understanding the anatomy of the skin layers is crucial for estheticians, as it helps in various treatments and understanding hair growth.