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.