WHAT ABOUT YOUR SKIN

Category: Image - :Skin.jpg|thumb |300px| Skin layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutis, showing a hair follicle, sweat gland & sebaceous gland.

Category: Image - :Female skin large.jpg|thumb |200px| Skin pores with benign lentigo on a human leg.

The skin is the outer covering of the body. In humans, it is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of ectodermal tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs.

"Skin care" (analysis),

Health-Cares.net, 2007, webpage:

HCcare.

Human skin is not unlike that of most other mammals except that it is not protected by a pelt and appears hairless though in fact nearly all human skin is covered with hair follicles. There are two general types of skin, hairy and glabrous skin.Marks, James G; Miller, Jeffery (2006). Lookingbill and Marks Principles of Dermatology. (4th ed.). Elsevier Inc. ISBN 1-4160-3185-5. The adjective cutaneous literally means "of the skin" (from Latin cutis, skin).

Because it interfaces with the environment, skin plays a key role in protecting (the body) against pathogensProksch E, Brandner JM, Jensen JM. (2008).The skin: an indispensable barrier. Exp Dermatol. 17(12):1063-72. PMID 19043850 and excessive water loss.Madison KC. (2003). Barrier function of the skin: "la raison dêtre" of the epidermis. J Invest Dermatol. 121(2):231-41. PMID 12880413 Its other functions are insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, synthesis of vitamin D, and the protection of vitamin B folates. Severely damaged skin will try to heal by forming scar tissue. This is often discolored and depigmented.

In humans, skin pigmentation varies among populations, and skin type can range from dry to oily. Such skin variety provides a rich and diverse habit for bacteria which number roughly a 1000 species from 19 phyla.Grice EA, Kong HH, Conlan S. (2009). Topographical and Temporal Diversity of the Human Skin Microbiome, Science, 324: 1190 - 1192. Pappas S. (2009). Your Body Is a Wonderland ... of Bacteria. ScienceNOW Daily News