Skin deposits. Light micrograph of a section through skin showing deposits of amyloid protein. At top is the cornified layer of dead skin cells, which are formed from the cells of the epidermis (dark pink). Beneath this layer is the dermis and beneath this is the hypodermis (pale pink), which contains adipose tissue. Where amyloid accumulates in the dermis it can cause a lesion on the skin above. In nodular amyloidosis, nodules measure from a few millimetres to a few centimetres across. The origin of the amyloid deposits is uncertain but they may be derived from plasma or keratinocyte cells following cell death.