Skin

by Amanda Chung

The skin is one of the body's most important parts. It weighs about six pounds, is waterproof, and helps protect the body from dirt and germs. There are more than 26 billion cells in a newborn baby. More than 2/3 of the body weight is made up of fluids. There are many bones in the body: the arm - 32, the leg - 31, the skull - 29, the spine - 26, and the chest - 25. There are over 650 muscles
in the body from the tiny ones that move the eyelids to the powerful ones that move the legs.

Why are there so many different skin colors? Skin is programmed to deal with the sun. People who come from hot climates usually get a lot of sun which can cause sunburns and cancer. To protect against the sun's rays, their skin has more melanin. Melanin is a pigment which makes skin look darker. In fact, sitting in the hot sun makes you tan because the skin is producing more melanin for
protection. People with lighter skin obviously have less melanin. When they go in the hot sun, they are more likely to burn.

A good sunscreen is important for protection against the sun's rays, even for people with lots of melanin. Washing regularly is also important because dust and dirt stick to the oils on your skin. When skin gets cut, germs have an opening to get into your body. That's why it's important to wash cuts and scrapes.

Questions and Answers about Skin

by Keaton Chatenay

Why does skin have pores?

Skin has tiny holes in it called sweat pores to let out sweat and water vapour. When you are too hot, glands pump out sweat, which cools you as it dries.

How thick is your skin?

Skin varies in thickness from just under 1mm on your eyelids to 5 mm or more on the soles of your feet. This thin covering has two layers. The outer skin that you see and touch is made of hard, tough cells and dead skin and is part of the epidermis. Below the epidermis is the dermis. It contains tiny blood vessels, sweat glands nerve endings and the roots of tiny hair. Under the dermis is a layer of fat, which keeps you warm.

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