About 15 percent of your body weight is skin. If that seems like a lot, remember that skin is your largest organ. And one of your most important. Understanding your skin’s structure is the first step to maintaining the health of your armor against the outside world. The Purpose of Your Skin Your skin comprises a large portion of the integumentary system. This organ system also contains hair, nails, and glands that produce sweat and oil. The three main functions of the integumentary system are protection, regulation, and sensation. Skin’s primary function in this system is to act as a barrier. It provides protection from various environmental elements—temperature, bacteria, chemicals, the sun, and more. But the blood vessels in the skin also help it regulate your body temperature. And skin is where your body uses sunlight to manufacture vitamin D. Layers of the Skin Your skin performs a lot of important functions, and each of its three layers play a role. Epidermis The epidermis is the ...
Lifestyle Wellness Specialist ✧ Feed your body exactly what it needs, your health will benefit ✧ Eat, move & think differently