The skin is more than a convenient layer separating you from the outside world. The skin is the human body’s largest organ, with a range of functions that support survival.
The skin has two main layers, the epidermis and dermis. Below these is a layer of subcutaneous (‘under the skin’) fat.
The skin:
- Protects the body from water loss and from injury due to bumps, chemicals, sunlight or microorganisms (‘germs’);
- Helps to control body temperature;
- Is a sensor to inform the brain of changes in the immediate environment; and
- Synthesizes Vitamin D.
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