Human skin is incredible. It is the body's largest organ, covering just about every nook and cranny of our entire body. The skin has many functions, it is made up of many different parts and also has the amazing ability to regenerate and heal itself. Along with the hair, nails, sweat and sebaceous glands, it forms the integumentary system. This comes from the Latin for covering, integumentum.

There are five main functions of the integumentary system. The first, and possibly the most obvious, is protection. It covers up all of our internal organs, binding and protecting them from injury, chemical agents and ultraviolet light. It can help prevent harmful microorganisms from entering the body as well as preventing water loss- leading to dehydration.

The next function is sensation. This allows us to protect ourselves from our immediate environment. Numerous sensory nerve endings are contained within the skin and they respond to touch, temperature, pain and pressure.

The integumentary system regulates body temperature. It acts as a thermostat. The body must remain at 36.8 degrees Celsius C. Changes in this temperature can result in illness such as hypothermia (where the body temperature falls below 35C) and fever (where the body temperature can rise up to 39C).

Body heat is generated by muscle contraction and also from digestive organs, particularly the liver. Body heat can be lost through faeces, urine and expired air, but mainly it occurs through sweating.

Shivering and contraction of the arrector pili muscle (Goosebumps) are also ways the body can generate and keep in heat. Also, if the body is too hot, it looses heat from the body by radiation. The capillaries in the skin expand and the blood flow increases. This is called vasodilatation. If the body is too cold, vasoconstriction occurs. Blood vessels in the skin constrict. Less blood passes through them keeping the blood closer to the internal organs and preventing heat loss from the skin's surface.

Skin can eliminate waste. Sweat will carry salts, lactic acid, urea and other substances out from the body. Sebum is also secreted onto the skin, keeping it supple and helping to waterproof it. Although the skin is mostly waterproof, some substances can pass through it into the basal layer. Fat-soluble substances such as steroids and vitamins A, D and E along with carbon dioxide and oxygen can be absorbed. Transdermal patches, topical medications, essential oils

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