What is the skins function?
Protection The skin protects the body against blows and falls through the fat cells of subcutis. The horny layer acts as a barrier against bacteria and excess fluid. The germinal layers protects the body from harmful ultraviolet light. Sensation Skin contains many tactile nerve endings, which send messages to the brain to react to the disturbance of the epidermis from heat, cold, touch and pain. Heat Regulation Skin helps to regulate the body temperature through the secretion of the sweat glands and contraction or dilation of the blood vessels in the dermis. Excretion and Secretion The skin excretes waste material through the sweat glands and controls fluid loss from the body. Sebaceous glands secrete sebum, which helps to keeps the skin oily and supple. Sebum assists in producing an “acid mantle” on the skin, which is of great importance in maintaining a healthy skin surface. A decrease in acidity results in an unhealthily appearance with uneven texture.
