Ch. 14.4 Skin NotesYour skin is the largest organ of your

ENTIRE body!

The skin has 5 major functions:

• 1. Protecting the body• 2. Maintaining temperature• 3. eliminating waste• 4. gathering information• 5. Producing Vitamin D

• Vitamin D is important for healthy bones because it helps the cells in your body!

Your skin is made up of 2 main layers

• The Epidermis and the Dermis

Epidermis structure and Function

• *New cells in the epidermis start growing at the bottom of the layer. As they get older, and new ones form below them, they move up to the surface.

• *Each skin cell lives for about 2 weeks.

Epidermis Cont.

• *Weird Fact: Epidermis cells are more valuable dead than alive!

• *The thick layer of dead cells on your fingertips protects and cushions them!

• *Also, the shedding of dead cells carries away bacteria and other nasty stuff that lands on your body

Dermis Structure and Function

• The dermis is the inner layer of the skin.• It contains nerves, blood vessels, sweat

glands, hairs and oil glands.• Sweat glands produce perspiration that exits

the skin through pores!

Dermis Structure and Function

• Hair grows through the dermis in small holes called follicles.

• Hair is made of dead cells: That’s why they don’t hurt when you get a hair cut.

• Oil produced in glands around the hair follicles make your hair waterproof.

How to Care for your skin

• There are 3 simple habits to keep your skin healthy!– 1. Eat a healthy diet– 2. keep skin clean and dry– 3. Limit your exposure to the sun

Healthy diet• Your skin is constantly growing!• Therefore, you need to eat healthy foods to

supply all the nutrients it needs!• AND DRINK WATER!

Keeping Skin Clean

• Washing the skin gets rid of dirt and harmful bacteria

• Good washing habits are important during the Teenage years when oil glands are more active.

Keeping Skin Clear

• When the pores get clogged with this oil, you get pimples!

• Simple washing every morning and night can help you have clear skin!

Sunshine!

• It is important to protect your skin from too much sunshine!

• Too much exposure to sunlight can lead to skin cancer!

• Cancer is when your skin cells divide uncontrollably, and then never die! They just keep growing and growing until they take over.

How to protect your skin

• When outdoors:– Wear a hat– Sunglasses (with UV protection)

–Sunscreen– And try to stay in the shade or indoors between

10am and 4pm when the sun is strongest!

ALL THESE WOMEN WEAR SUNSCREEN!!!