Weighing about 4kg and covering an area of up to 2 square meters, the skin is the largest organ on the human body. It can be asserted that, without this organ, you cannot survive, because the fluids in the body will evaporate, and that’s not to mention a variety of other reasons when people are no longer protected. protected by skin.
Most noticeable is that the skin helps protect the parts immediately below them from external influences: From impact forces, environmental factors to UV rays. 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, our skin acts like a “hard worker”, as it constantly fights against invading bacteria, constantly regenerates new skin cells, and at the same time also do not forget the task of producing vitamin D to provide for the skeletal system.
In fact, there are three layers of skin that work together to help people survive.
The outermost layer of skin – which we can see with the naked eye – is called the epidermis. The main structural component of the epidermis is keratinocytes, a type of cell derived from keratin, the protein that serves as the basic structural material of skin, nails, and hair. Keratin is also the most powerful protein, so it is trusted to protect other types of skin cells from damage.
Although it is likened to a strong wall, keratin cannot protect the body from all harmful agents. Therefore, the epidermis also possesses other defense mechanisms.
Langerhan cells located on the epidermis are responsible for sending warning information to the immune system, if it detects any harmful bacteria or viruses that find their way into the body. In addition, there is also Melanin, which is the pigment that determines the color of human skin, helping to block UV rays from sunlight.
Located just below the epidermis is a second layer of skin called the dermis . The dermis is even thicker than the epidermis, and this is also the factor that helps create the strength and elasticity of human skin, thanks to the presence of a system of collagen and elastin fibers. The nervous system, hair follicles, and glands are also located right in the dermis. Therefore, the body’s touch and temperature regulation system is determined by this layer of skin.
Sebaceous glands in the dermis produce sebum, an oily substance that coats the outer layer of skin, thereby preventing the growth of bacteria on the skin.
The last, deepest layer of skin is called the subcutaneous layer . The subcutaneous tissue acts as a bridge to help attach the epidermis and dermis to the bones and other organs. Although still considered a component of the skin, the subcutaneous layer is composed mainly of fat, which acts as an insulation layer to help keep the body warm as well as create a cushion in the event of an impact. The subcutaneous fat layer also acts as a storehouse, which can be converted into energy for the body’s activities in case of need.
Thus, we have known the three main components of the skin: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer . Your skin is made up of about 1.5 trillion cells, this number varies from person to person. On average, every hour, the body creates about 40,000 new skin cells to replace the amount of dead skin cells that fall off our body.
Right on the surface of the skin is a very diverse “living world”, with about 1000 species of microorganisms coexisting and developing. It is estimated that for every 6.5 square centimeter of the body surface there are up to 50 million bacteria. This number sounds like a lot, but if we put all the microorganisms that live on the surface of the body into one place, it is only the size of a pea.
Just like our gut, our skin has both bad and good bacteria. It is important that this microflora is maintained in a balanced state, then we will have a healthy skin.