To understand and care for your skin is important for more than just your appearance. By being the largest organ, your skin is one of the important factors to your general health. If you take care of it, it can help you to take care of skin issues. This is why it is so important to have a great knowledge about your skin. This article will discuss the skin and its functions. It is absolutely worth the time to understand your skin to identify and manage your skin problems.

What is skin?

Skin is the body's largest organ which protects against infections caused by the germs, regulates body temperature and enables touch sensations. The skin’s main layers involve the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis and is tending to numerous problems, including acne, wrinkles and rashes. It's made of protein, fats, minerals and water. Skin, along with your hair, oil glands, sweat glands and nails, is part of the integumentary system. integumentary means a body’s external covering.

Layers of the skin

The skin is divided into three layers which are epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis is composed mainly of keratinocytes. Beneath the epidermis is the basement membrane which is a narrow, multi layered structure anchors the epidermis to the dermis layer of the skin. The layer under the dermis is the hypodermis which consists largely of fat.

Epidermis - It is the outer layer of the skin which has five layers of its own. It contains three major cells which are keratinocytes, melanocytes and langerhans cells. It protects your organs, skeletal system and muscles from any harm.

Dermis - It is the middle layer present between the epidermis and hypodermis and is made up of fibrous and elastic cells. This is the thickest layer of your skin.

Hypodermis - Also called the subcutaneous layer. It helps insulate and protect the body, regulates temperature, stores energy and connects the skin to muscles and bones.

Functions of the skin

Biochemical functions

The skin is included in several biochemical processes. In the presence of sunlight, a kind of vitamin D called cholecalciferol is synthesised from a derivative of the steroid cholesterol in your skin. The liver converts cholecalciferol to calcidiol, which is further converted to calcitriol in the kidneys. The skin also contains receptors for different steroid hormones and for vitamin A.

Thermoregulation 

One of the skin’s major functions is to shield the body from cold or heat, and maintain a constant core temperature. This is attained by differences to the blood flow through the cutaneous vascular bed. During hot periods, the vessels dilate, the skin reddens and drops of sweat form on the skin. In winter times, the blood vessels constrict, helping heat from escaping. The secretion and evaporation of sweat from the surface of the skin similarly helps to cool down the body.

Sensation 

The sensation of touch that triggers a reaction if we touch or feel anything, including effects that may cause pain. This is major for people with a skin condition, as sting and itching can be extreme for many and yield great torture.

Protection

The skin acts as a self-protective barrier from mechanical, thermal and diverse physical injury, harmful agents, extreme loss of moisture and protein and dangerous effects of UV radiation.

Since your skin plays such a major part in guarding your body, you should keep it as great as you can. Understanding and taking good care of your skin will help you from falling ill or having harm to your bones, muscles, and internal organs and you can eventually say farewell to questions that arise in your mind like" the best skin doctor in Delhi near me."