HUMAN SKIN
- its functions

Your skin performs many important and varied functions, namely:

• PROTECTION:
  • your skin protects you against foreign objects or substances entering your body.
  • collagen and elastin fibers provide skin with strength and resilience, making your skin a formidable barrier against outside attack and assault.
• BACTERIAL BARRIER:
  • micro-organisms, present on the skin, help combat attacks from harmful bacterial and viruses.
• FUNGAL GROWTH CONTROL:
  • your skin's acid mantel's pH helps control and regulate fungal growth (preventing uncontrolled growth).
• TEMPERATURE REGULATION:
  • helps regulate body temperature, through the regulation of blood flow (in the dermis) and the production of sweat - to cool the body.
• WATER LOSS REGULATION:
  • helps control the rate of water loss from the body - oil (sebaceous) glands produce sebum (an oily substance) which coats the skin, waterproofing it.
• UV PROTECTION:
  • Melanocytes in the Epidermis produce melanin, which functions as a UV filter, protecting your skin against harmful UV radiation.
• SENSATION - TOUCH:
  • numerous nerve ending in the dermis allow the body to sense hot, cold, pressure and pain. Providing the body with vital information about the outside environment.
• SYNTHESIS OF VITAMIN D:
  • produced in the skin in response to sunlight. Vitamin D is important in the body's calcium metabolism.

Nancy K. Brown (N.K.B.) Aesthetics, Inc.^®  ©2008