The skin is the largest organ of the human body in terms of size and mass, and it protects the body and provides it with very important functions that go beyond the function of protecting the body and internal organs from the external environment, so we will take you on a detailed tour of this organ whose functions and importance will surprise you, so follow this article with us to learn about everything pertains to this member.

What is leather?

The skin is one of the heaviest and largest organs in the body, and it is a complex organ. Although you might think that its thickness does not exceed a few millimeters, it represents about one-seventh of the body weight.

It is classified as a cover for the body and protects it. It is considered part of the integumentary system or the integumentary system, which consists of hair, nails, nerves and glands besides the skin. This system is responsible for protecting the body as it acts as a protective barrier between the inside and outside of the body.

Composition of human skin

Human skin in adults represents about 16% of their body weight, and covers about 2 square meters in terms of area. Each square inch of it contains approximately 650 sweat glands, about 20 blood vessels, more than 1000 nerve endings, in addition to 19 million skin cells. And 60 thousand pigment cells.

The thickness and texture of the skin varies from one area to another in the human body. For example, the skin layer below the eyes is thin, while the skin layer on the palms of the hands and feet is thick in texture. The human skin consists of water and protein in addition to minerals and fats, and this is what helps protect the body.

Skin functions in the human body

There are many roles and functions for the skin of the body, including:

• Protecting the body from microbes, germs, bacteria and any pathogens.
• You store fat and water.
• It controls the loss of body water by preventing water from leaking out through evaporation.
• Providing the body with sensation, through nerve endings that support touch and detect pressure, temperature, injury and vibration.
• It helps regulate the body’s thermoregulation through the secretion of sweat and the expansion of blood vessels, which keeps the body cool and retains heat.

number of skin layers

As for the layers of the skin, it is divided into 3 main layers as follows:

1- Epidermis layer

This layer is considered the upper layer of the skin, or the outer layer that can be seen and touched, and is considered as a barrier. This layer is the one that covers the body as a whole and is considered within the body’s parietal system. The cells of this layer are composed of keratin, which is a protein that sticks to other proteins and together they form cells this class.

The epidermis layer alone consists of five layers, namely:

1. Stratum corneum.
2. Stratum Lucidum.
3. Stratum granulosum.
4. Stratum squamous layer.
5. Stratum basale.

The epidermis layer does not contain blood vessels, and it derives its color from the melanin pigment that melanocytes produce in the body.

function of the epidermis layer

• Giving color to the skin.
• Making new skin cells.
• Protects the body from the external environment.

The skin of the human body secretes about 500 million skin cells daily, and the outer parts of the skin consist of about 20 to 30 layers of dead cells. And in the bottom layer of this layer, new cells are made, and these new cells appear and make their way to the surface of the skin within about 4 weeks, and take the place of dead, fallen cells.

2- Dermis layer

This layer is the second layer of the skin. It is a connective tissue that protects the body from tension and stress. It also gives the skin its elasticity and strength.

The dermis layer can stretch a lot at certain times, such as when a woman is pregnant, and this layer can also tear, which causes stretch marks to appear. This layer is divided into two parts, namely:

1. The papillary dermis is a layer that contains loose connective tissue. It also contains protrusions that give the dermis layer its shape, in addition to being responsible for the patterns and zigzags of the fingertips.
2. Reticular Dermis: This layer is a connective tissue, but it is dense and irregular. It also contains protein fibers, which give the skin its elasticity and strength.

function of the dermis layer

• Provides sensation and blood to the skin.
• Make sebum and sweat.
• Works on skin hair growth.

This layer performs these functions because it contains blood and lymphatic vessels and hair follicles, in addition to being the location for a number of body glands such as the sebaceous and sweat glands. They also contain mechanoreceptors that detect pressure, nociceptors that sense pain, and thermoreceptors that sense heat.

3- Hypodermis layer

This layer is known as the lower or adipose layer, and it is a tissue composed of fats. These fats insulate the body and preserve its temperature. It also protects muscles and bones, in addition to connective tissue and elastin (which is an elastic protein that helps the tissues return to their normal shape after they are stretched). ).

This layer is the innermost layer in the skin. Some people may not realize it within the skin layers and may not consider it a part of the skin, but this layer has amazing benefits and functions.

function of the subcutaneous layer

• Help connect skin to muscles and bones.
• It is a filling for the internal organs.
• Subcutaneous tissue supply with blood and nerves.
• Protects the body from injuries.

Reasons for different skin color

Skin color is one of the most important features that distinguish different groups and races from each other. Skin color is an easily recognizable and observable trait and phenotype. This results from the different types of altered melanin pigment in the body.

This pigment has more than one function, the most important of which is protecting human skin from ultraviolet radiation from the sun, as if the skin is exposed to these rays, the body produces melanin by pigment cells, and this results in skin tanning. Also, the color difference may be caused by genes and heredity.

The most common human skin disease

There are some problems and disorders that may affect it directly, especially since it plays the role of the body’s protection system from the outside, and this may make it more vulnerable to these problems:

• Skin allergies.
• Exposure to insect bites, such as mosquito bites, spider bites, etc.
• blisters
• Skin rash.
• skin dryness.
• Skin inflammation, such as cellulitis.
• Skin cancer and melanoma.
• Wounds of all kinds.
• Burns, including sunburn.
• stigmata.
• Skin lesions, such as freckles, moles, and skin growths.
• Skin disorders such as eczema, acne, vitiligo and psoriasis.

How to protect the skin and epidermis?

It is natural that with age, the skin loses collagen and elastin, and this leads to thinning of the dermis layer in the skin, and as a result, the skin suffers from sagging and acne. It may be difficult to stop the aging process, but fortunately there are some steps and procedures that may help maintain healthy skin, including:

• Don’t neglect sunscreen, choose the right type of sunscreen for your skin that has a broad spectrum sun protection factor.
• Get rid of the bouts of stress that you may experience, because stress and tension make skin diseases worse.
• Periodic medical examinations of the skin, especially moles, should be conducted, in order to detect any changes in it that may be signs of skin cancer.
• Stop smoking and quit it permanently, because it causes skin aging faster.
• Choose a gentle cleanser for the skin and use it to wash the face morning and evening.
• Shower regularly and use a suitable lotion to moisturize the skin to prevent exposure to dry skin.