Which layer of the epidermis is responsible for the production of new skin cells?

The layer of the epidermis responsible for the production of new skin cells is the stratum basale. This is the deepest layer of the epidermis, and it contains a single row of columnar or cuboidal keratinocytes. These cells are actively undergoing mitosis, which means they are dividing to produce new cells. As new cells are formed in the stratum basale, they push older cells toward the surface of the skin, leading to the constant renewal of the epidermis.

The stratum spinosum is located above the stratum basale and primarily serves as a protective layer with cells that have already begun to differentiate. The stratum granulosum comes next, where cells begin to lose their nuclei and undergo keratinization, a process essential for forming a protective barrier. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer, composed of dead, flattened keratinized cells that provide a tough layer of protection, but not involved in cell production.