Human Skin Is The Flexible Tissue Which Not Only Encloses Your Body, But Protects You From Infection, Dehydration And Radiation

It also keeps you warm and makes you look good.

Human skin, that is, your skin includes the inner skin of the lungs and digestive system, is the largest organ of your body, weighing about 5kg (11lbs) and covering a surface area of 2 square metres (22 square feet).

It contains two main layers of cells: a thin outer layer, the epidermis, and a thicker inner layer, the dermis. Along the internal surface of the epidermis, young cells continuously multiply, pushing the older cells outward. At the outer surface the older cells flatten and overlap to form a tough membrane and gradually shed as calluses or collections of dead skin. The entire surface of your skin is replaced every twenty days.

No other organ in your body is as open to as much damage or disease as your skin. Injury, sunlight, smoking, germs, your environment, the cosmetics you use and what you eat and drink all affect the condition of your skin.

Human skin provides a barrier against invasion by outside organisms and its pigments protect your body from the dangerous ultraviolet rays in sunlight.

It also waterproofs the body, preventing excessive loss or gain of moisture. The numerous sweat glands in your skin perform several functions that help maintain normal body temperature, excrete waste products along with perspiration, the evaporation of which accounts for most of the cooling of the body.

Its fat cells act as insulation against cold and when your body overheats, the skin's network of small blood vessels carry warm blood near the surface where it is cooled.

Your skin is lubricated by its own oil glands, which keep both the outside layer of the epidermis and the hair from drying out. Although the epidermis has no blood vessels, its deeper strata contain melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin.

Human skin has remarkable self-healing properties, particularly when only the epidermis is damaged. Even when the injury damages the dermis, healing may still be complete if the wounded area occurs in a part of the body with a rich blood supply. So with the human skin being such an important organ, it is essential that you assist it by getting your body systems working well. Obviously a good diet is essential but many skin ailments can be traced to problems with your digestion, and other issues such as insufficient “good bacteria” or an overgrowth of Candida (a yeast infection) in your bowels.

Another concern is that safe cosmetics be used at all times.