Have you ever stopped to think about your skin? You see it every day, but did you know it’s one of the most important parts of your body? That’s right—your skin is much more than just something that covers your arms, legs, and pretty face. It’s like a protective suit that keeps you safe, and helps you feel the world.
What is skin?
The skin is the soft outer covering of your body. It may look simple, but it’s actually made of three special layers:
1. Epidermis – This is the top layer, the one you can see. It protects you from germs and helps make new skin cells.
2. Dermis – This middle layer is where you find hair roots, sweat glands, and nerves that help you feel things like heat, cold, and pain.
3. Hypodermis – The deepest layer contains fat and helps keep your body warm and cushions your muscles and bones.
What does skin do?
Your skin is busy all the time, even when you’re sleeping. Here are some of the cool jobs it does:
* Protects you: It keeps germs and dirt out and your body parts safe inside.
* Controls temperature: When you’re hot, your skin makes sweat to cool you down. When you’re cold, it traps in the heat.
* Helps you feel: Your skin has tiny nerves that help you sense touch, pain, pressure, and temperature.
* Heals itself: Got a scrape or cut? Your skin gets to work, creating new cells to heal the wound.
* Makes Vitamin D: When sunlight hits your skin, it helps your body make vitamin D, which is important for strong bones.
Skin comes in all colours
People have different skin colours because of something called melanin. It’s a natural pigment made in the skin. Some people have more melanin, and some have less, the more melanin your body produces the darker the skin will be. No matter what the colour, everyone’s skin still does the same amazing job.
Take care of your skin
To keep your skin happy and healthy, try these simple tips:
* Keep it clean: Wash your skin every day, especially your hands and face.
* Moisturise: If your skin gets dry, use a gentle lotion to keep it soft.
* Drink lots of water: Do you know that 64 percent of your skin is made up from water?
* Be sun smart: Skin can damage easily especially from the harsh rays of the sun, so make sure to wear sunscreen and hats when you play outside to protect your skin from sunburn.
* Eat healthy foods: Fruits and veggies help your skin glow from the inside out. Make sure you take sufficient Vitamins such as A, C and E.
* Get enough sleep: Rest helps your skin repair itself while you snooze
Fun skin facts
* You lose about 30,000 dead skin cells every minute
* Did you know your skin is your largest organ? And that it is even bigger than your brain or heart?
* Some animals, like snakes, shed their skin all at once—imagine if we did that !
The skin-tastic wrap-up
Although your skin is gentle and soft, it is tough and one of the smartest organs in your body and works hard to protect you. So treat it kindly, wash it, love it, and thank it—because your amazing skin is always looking out for you.
