6 Essential Jobs Your Skin Does For You

Written By Finnegan Pierson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

It’s no secret that your skin is the largest organ of your body. Made up of three essential layers, the epidermis (the outermost exposed layer), the dermis (the middle layer containing hair follicles and blood vessels) and the hypodermis or subcutaneous (the lowest layer made up of fats and tissue), skin functions in many ways to keep the body safe and healthy.

Understanding the roles of your skin will help you make important decisions about skin care and your overall health routine. Six major functions of the skin are:

1. Protection

Most notably, the skin protects the body by holding it together. Like a super suit, your skin contains all of your organs and muscles as well as the necessary amount of water for hydration, while simultaneously acting as a barrier to harmful germs and bacteria. Additionally, melanin and proteins from the dermal and epidermal layers help protect the body from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

2. Absorption

Because your skin is porous, it absorbs much of what you apply to its surface. Through a process called dermal absorption, molecules from substances directly applied to skin can penetrate the epidermis and enter the body. This type of absorption may be the most significant avenue for chemical introduction to the body.

Because of this, creams, ointments and lotions are applied topically for maximum effectiveness. Check out le-vel thrive reviews for more information about how nutrients are absorbed through the skin.

3. Regeneration

While your skin is a protective agent, it is not impenetrable or impervious to damage. It does, however, heal itself through regeneration. In fact, your skin is the only organ that does this! Every 28 days, the epidermis sheds and replaces all of the dead skin cells on its surface.

Aside from this awesome process, cells within the skin have the remarkable ability to repair wounded tissue even after significant damage. Infants have the fastest skin regeneration rate and it is significantly reduced through the ageing process, making attention to skin care crucial over the course of your lifetime.

4. Sensation

The dermis contains nerve fibers that allow you to feel touch, pain, pressure, heat and cold sensations in your environment. Other common skin sensations include itching and vibration.

The fibers send signals to the brain to interpret the type of sensation and to warn you against potential injury. When you accidentally get too close to touching that hot stove burner, you jerk away quickly because of the messages from your skin to your brain.

5. Secretion and Excretion

The glands inside your skin are constantly producing substances that are to be expelled from the body, called secretions. The removal of these substances from the body is called excretion. For example, sweat glands in the dermis produce perspiration to be released when you sweat, and oil glands produce sebum to lubricate your skin and hair. These are then excreted as waste through the epidermis.

6. Temperature Regulation

To function properly, the body must maintain homeostasis. When too hot, the blood vessels in the skin will expand to encourage heat loss. When too cold, they will constrict to hold warmth inside the body.

This is why you sweat when you feel hot and shiver when you feel cold. Without skin to regulate your temperature, you could easily become too hot or too cold, both of which are extremely dangerous conditions for your other organs.

Your skin works hard for you, so it’s important to show it the care and attention it deserves. A daily cleansing and moisturizing routine is essential for maintaining skin’s integrity and battling the effects of aging.

Add a good sunscreen to your regimen. Even if you’re in a hurry and want to skip the SPF just this once, don’t!

Furthermore, see your dermatologist for any skin concerns you have. In addition to its many super powers, your skin can alert you to some serious medical conditions. It’s vital that you be familiar with it and monitor any irregularities like growths or discolorations. Protect your skin so it can continue to protect you.

Looking for 100% chemical-free, all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Finnegan Pierson loves business and has a passion for Health and technology. Even more interesting is the combination of the two. As a freelance writer, Finn hopes to influence others so they can have positive life experiences.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Authentic Stock from StockSnap