Science Common Sense

953 - How does the skin protect us from the environment?

The skin protects us from the environment in several ways:

1. Barrier: It acts as a shield between our body and the outside world, keeping bad things like dirt, germs, and water from entering and good things like water and warmth from escaping.

2. Sun protection: Melanin, a pigment in the skin, helps protect us from the sun's harmful rays by absorbing UV light.

3. Regulates temperature: Skin helps control our body temperature by sweating to cool down when it's hot and narrowing blood vessels to conserve heat when it's cold.

4. Senses danger: Nerve endings in the skin help us feel sensations like pain, pressure, and temperature, which can alert us to potential dangers like extreme heat or cold.

5. Healing: Skin helps our body heal itself by repairing damaged areas through the growth of new cells and the formation of scars.

So, in short, our skin is like a superhero that protects and keeps us safe from the outside world.