It makes our skin impermeable to water. Now, what else does the skin actually do? Well, within the dermis, we have a network of collagen as well as elastin fibers. And we also have this within the hypodermis, within the subcutaneous layer. And together, our carotene, our collagen, as well as our elastin fibers give the skin strength and elasticity. And this is exactly what allows the skin to resist physical as well as mechanical pressures and forces.