Skin Deep: The inside story of our outer selves

by Phillipa McGuinness

This is a book about skin. The strange wonderfulness of our bodily covering. What happens to it when something goes wrong. How the world responds to imperfection and difference. It’s about how skin makes us who we are.Skin serves as a barrier between us and the germs that would otherwise invade and destroy us. It regulates our temperature. Skin remains waterproof even while our entire epidermis replaces itself each month. The body’s biggest organ even has its own sub-set of organs – sweat glands, sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Primeval, sometimes mysterious forces drive skin-to-skin contact, but erotic desire is but one of many deep-seated urges that make us want to touch the skin of another. Touch is how we express love and affection as well as darker, violent emotions. Skin keeps the outside out and the inside in. You will intuitively compile information and judgements about a stranger based on their skin and the clothing that covers it. Skin shouldn’t give you the measure of a person but we function as if it does. Skin Deep explores beauty, ageing, imperfection, health and illness, all of which are closely related to skin, and interrogates whiteness, both historically, structurally and through current notions of white fragility and victimhood. Paradoxically, skin is a barrier and a point of contact. It is miraculous, our biggest organ. It heals itself! It’s wafer-thin! Skin cells remake themselves!Phillipa McGuinness has interviewed plastic surgeons, dermatologists, burn survivors, beauticians, melanoma sufferers, people who suffer from body dysmorphias, victims and perpetrators of racism, and all kinds of people who are and are not comfortable in their own skin, to write a book where science meets art and culture, history and politics. Philosophy too, given skin is the point where our self, and our self-perception, struggles with or embraces the way others see us, and the way we see ourselves.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

383 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 16, 2022

Reviews

[Kerran Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! This is fascinating and multi layered look into humans and their skin, covering cancers, blemishes, shame, touch, prejudice and more. McGuinness quotes a lot of people of colour and suggests many sources of further reading which I loved, and the result is a very well rounded and well researched work of non-fiction. There wasn't a chapter in this that I didn't feel drawn into, and it's definitely topped my list of non fiction reads for the year

[Danika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so surprised to see this book only has 5 reviews, so I thought I’d add my own. Skin Deep discusses everything to do with our skin as the title suggests, and the overarching belief that our skin is not only skin deep, meaning there is a multitude of implications one’s skin has on their lives.

This book discussed skin in terms of cancer, and the prevalence of skin cancers appearing in Australian people. As well as the lack of dermatologists to assist with this issue, and provides clear evidence there needs to be more funding, research, and training doctors for dermatological work. The importance of sunscreen, slip slop slap, and other sun safety protocols are clearly laid out, along with the reasoning why this is vital, especially for Australians. There is also a foundation discussed on what skin is, from a biological, anatomy and generally scientific perspective which is easier to understand than academic literature to support this argument.

Racism was also discussed and how the amount of melanin in your skin can impact your quality of life. As a white person, I feel like a person of colour is better suited to discuss this than I am.

Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo and acne are mentioned. Not just from a medical definition of the terms, but accounts from real people explaining what it is like to live with these conditions and the torture it can be. The idea that skin is skin deep is suggested to be false in this section, as these conditions can manifest into troubles with physical and mental health. As well as a better understanding on these conditions, including that psoriasis is an immune system condition, clearly indicating the condition is deeper than the layers of your skin.

Tattoos were discussed in reference to how while the ink only goes into your skin and the medical terms for this, the implications and meanings of tattoos go deeper than surface level. Several people talk about their experience with getting a tattoo and how they see it as reclaiming their body, having deep personal meaning, artistic expression, and many more examples.

I cannot talk about all the parts of this book, but if you’re Australian and don’t understand how we are at a much higher risk for skin cancers, or you just want a better understanding of all skin does for us, I cannot recommend this book enough.

[Avril · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: reading this book will make you feel itchy, especially the chapter on eczema, psoriasis, acne and vitiligo, and a section in the final chapter that terrified me. It also covers the non-existence and yet incredible importance of ‘race’ as read through skin colour, skin cancer, the microbes on our skin and how much washing is too much, and beauty products. I found it fascinating, and ended up feeling incredibly lucky that my skin seems to mostly do what it is meant to with minimal fuss. Long may that last.

This book also made me ponder my lack of a ‘beauty regime’. I don’t wear makeup. I haven’t worn makeup for decades. I did get makeup ‘done’ when I did calisthenics and when I was a bridesmaid, but that was it. Being a university student for years, and then a clergywoman, has meant that I can get away with going makeup free. But this book is now also making me wonder whether I get away with wearing no makeup because my skin codes me as White and so, no matter how little effort I put in, our racist society already sees my skin as more acceptable, even more beautiful, than the skin of a Bla(c)k woman, now matter how much more beautiful than me she is in every other way. This pondering comes from McGuinness quoting Tressie McMillan Cottom, who writes about beauty as an instrument of capitalism.

Anyway, I will now be more diligent about sunscreen.

[✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book I wasn't that keen to read a book from a white woman talking about POC experiences with skin conditions etc. However, McGuiness had actually interviewed POC dermatologists and got their perspectives. Actually, there were a lot of people that she quoted. For example;
Dr Monisha Gupta is quoted in relation to her expertise and experiences of pigmentary disorders for POC, like Vitiligo.
There's a quote from Aotearoa New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta - the world's first Indigenous foreign minister, in regards to her Maori facial tattoo and it's significance.
There's quotes from Professor Aileen Moreton-Robinson who is an Indigenous woman who talks about the privilege of white middle class women is Australia - yes in this book about skin!

This isn't a book for relaxing, it's incredibly educational and layered. It's loaded with so much information and covers so many topics - to tattoos, to ASMR, to Covid, to capitalism.

After reading the book I found myself going to the "list of copyright permissions" section at the back to look at the resources she used because I wanted to read those too!

[Rhoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes a deep dive into the human body’s largest organ and covers pretty much everything you can think of (and then some): the composition, colour/race/racism, dermatology (and dermatologists), skin cancer, skin conditions (including eczema, psoriasis and acne), sunscreen, touch and skin sensation, skincare and the beauty industry amongst others.

The author interviews many specialists in their particular fields and even includes several references made in books that all avid readers will be familiar with.

I found the book really interesting and learned quite a lot from it! The writing is easy to understand - even when it is being science-y 😆 and is presented in such a way that it doesn’t become dull or dry. You will never view your skin quite the same way again and will marvel at all that it can do that you never really think about! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.

[Nadia King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skin Deep by Phillipa McGuiness is an exploration of the body-mind-self connection, skin and its relationship with culture, genetics and ethnicity, the profession of dermatology, skin cancer, microbes, touch, and the art of tattooing.

McGuinness’s voice is warm, her insights careful, considered and intelligent, and her fascination with skin evident.
Written in accessible language, Skin Deep illuminates our relationship with the largest organ in our bodies. McGuinness’s book will entice you to consider your skin differently and prompt you to think about your skin and that of others in an altered light.

Highly recommended for all wearers of skin!

Many thanks to Penguin Random House for sending me a copy of Skin Deep to review.

[Pip Snort · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a well-written, thoughtful and carefully considered study of skin. It ranged over territory from cosmetics to surgery to disease to anatomy to politics and pulled no punches. Its writer definitely had skin in the game and fortunately does not pretend otherwise.

I learned some things, was challenged by others and will think about a few more in the days to come.

[Meg Vanderhel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept and ideas explored in the book are very interesting, however at some points I did feel as though some chapters may have dragged on when the point could’ve been condensed. However, it was an engaging read, but perhaps over complicated some ideas.

[Barbsss · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book but what I expected and what I received were too far apart for me. I made it a quarter of the way through before giving it away.

[The_enchanted.Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad this book landed on my radar! Very interesting read about all things to do with skin. From racism, sweating, illness to beauty expectations.