The Skin

1. Section 5 The Skin

2. The skin covers and protects the body from injury, infection, and water loss. The skin also helps regulate body temperature, climate wastes, gather information about the environment, and produce vitamin D. The Skin

3. The skin protects the body by forming a barrier that keeps disease-causing microorganisms and harmful substances outside the body. Skin also keeps water inside the body. Protecting the Body

4. Blood vessels in your skin enlarge when we get too warm and the blood flow increases. This allows heat to move from within your body to the outside environment. Perspiration (sweat) is released to keep your body cool. Maintaining Temperature

5. When we perspire, waste from the breakdown of chemicals (such as proteins) are released in your perspiration. Eliminating Waste

6. Place your finger tip on your arm and press down. GENTLY pinch your arm. These are 2 examples of how your body gathers information about the pressure, pain and temperature through the nerves in your skin. Gathering Information

7. Vitamin D is important for healthy bones because it helps the cells in your digestive system to absorb calcium from food. We absorb vitamin D through your skin in the sunlight. Skin only needs a few minutes of sunlight each day to absorb enough vitamin D. Producing Vitamin D

8. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin. Cells in the epidermis have a life cycle, like all cells. They form deep in the epidermis and move up as new cells form. These cells die after about 2 weeks and become part of the outer layer of skin. 2 weeks later, the dead skin cells shed and are replaced by new dead skin cells. The Epidermis

9. Those dead skin cells are valuable in protecting your skin. Example, on your fingertips, that thick layer of dead cells protects and cushions your fingertips. Shedding of dead skin cells carries away bacteria and other substances. Every time you rub your hands together, you lose thousands of skin cells and any bacteria on them. Melanin is a pigment that gives skin color. The more melanin you have, the darker your skin. The epidermis

10. The inner layer of the skin. The dermis contains nerves, blood vessels, sweat glands, hair, and oil glands. Sweat glands produce perspiration which reaches the surface of your skin through pores. Strands of hair grow within the dermis in follicles. The Dermis

11. 3 habits can help skin stay healthy: • Eat a healthy diet • Keep skin clean and dry • Limit exposure to the sun Caring for Your Skin