The skin: structure and functions

In short: At about two square metres the skin is the largest human organ. It protects against pathogens, water loss and UV radiation and regulates body temperature.

In more detail: It consists of epidermis, dermis and subcutis.

In detail

• Epidermis: The outer horny layer protects; renews about every four weeks.
• Dermis: Blood vessels, nerves, sweat glands, hair roots, sebaceous glands.
• Subcutis: Fatty tissue as padding and heat insulation.
• Sweat: Cools the body by evaporation.
• Pigments: Melanin protects from UV; sunburn damages the skin (sonnenschutz-lichtschutzfaktor-und-uv-filter).
• Vitamin D: Is formed in the skin (vitamin-d-und-sonnenlicht).
• Wound healing: Clotting, inflammation, tissue formation (erste-hilfe-grundlagen).
• Care: Gentle cleansing, moisturising for dry skin, watch moles and use skin cancer screening (hautpflege-wirkstoffe-niacinamid-hyaluron-säure-und-vitamin-c).