[JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN] SKIN COVERS YOU FROM HEAD TO TOE LIKE A COAT OF ARMOR IT SHIELDS YOUR BONES AND PROTECTS YOUR INTERNAL ORGANS FROM BEING HURT.

THE OUTSIDE LAYER OF SKIN IS KNOWN AS THE EPIDERMIS. IT IS REMARKABLY ELASTIC AND IN MOST CASES COVERED WITH A FINE COAT OF HAIR.

IT’S A TOUGH LAYER THAT IS WATER-PROOF AND SEALS OUT INVADING GERMS BUT IT WEARS AWAY SHEDDING MILLIONS OF DEAD SKIN FLAKES EVERY MINUTE. BUT UNDERNEATH, NEW CELLS CONSTANTLY REPLACE THE OLD.

THE LAYER BENEATH THAT IS THE DERMIS WHICH IS PACKED WITH BLOOD VEINS BRINGING NUTRIENTS.

A NETWORK OF FIBERS WHICH HOLD US TOGETHER – SWEAT GLANDS, HAIR FOLLICLES AND SENSITIVE NERVE ENDINGS.

YOUR SKIN PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN KEEPING YOU JUST THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE. WHEN YOU GET TOO HOT SWEAT OOZES UP AND OUT TINY PORES CALLED SWEAT PORES ONTO YOUR SKIN.

EVEN YOUR FINGER TIP HAS DOZENS OF SWEAT GLANDS JUST BELOW THE SURFACE. SWEAT COOLS YOUR BODY BY EVAPORATION.

AND WHEN YOU’RE TOO COLD THE BLOOD VESSELS IN YOUR SKIN GET NARROWER AND TINY MUSCLES PULL THE FINE HAIR ON YOUR BODY UPRIGHT TO TRAP AIR AND CREATE A LAYER OF INSULATION.

YOUR SKIN WORKS TO REGULATE YOUR BODY’S TEMPERATURE AND TO KEEP YOU FEELING JUST RIGHT.

AND FEELING IS SOMETHING YOUR SKIN DOES TOO. TOUCH IS THE FIRST SENSE WE DEVELOP.

INSIDE OUR SKIN WE HAVE MILLIONS OF TINY TOUCH SENSORS THAT SEND SIGNALS TO OUR BRAIN DETECTING EVERYTHING FROM A PRICK OF A PIN POINT TO OUR MOVEMENTS IN THE WORLD AROUND US.

EVERYONE NEEDS HUMAN CONTACT. NEWBORN BABIES EVEN LIVE LONGER AND BETTER IF THEY ARE REGULARLY TOUCHED.

NOT ALL THE PARTS OF OUR SKIN ARE EQUALLY SENSITIVE THOUGH. LIPS AND HANDS HAVE MORE TOUCH SENSORS THAN OUR BACK OR LEGS.

IF EVERY PART OF OUR BODY WAS DRAWN IN PROPORTION TO HOW SENSITIVE IT IS TO TOUCH, THIS IS WHAT YOUR BODY WOULD LOOK LIKE.

AND WHAT PART OF YOUR BODY HAS THE MOST TOUCH SENSORS? WHY, THE TIP OF YOUR TONGUE.

YOUR SKIN HAS AN AMAZING ABILITY TO MEND ITSELF. WHEN YOU GET CUT YOUR SKIN AUTOMATICALLY STARTS TO BLOCK INFECTIOUS BACTERIA FROM GETTING IN AND TO KEEP FLUIDS FROM LEAKING OUT.

BLOOD CLOTS AND CELLS MULTIPLY FROM ALL SIDES UNTIL THE WOUND IS HEALED.

THE CONDITION OF YOUR SKIN SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU. AS YOU AGE YOUR SKIN BECOMES LESS ELASTIC AND YOU GET WRINKLES.

THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH MELANIN THERE IS IN IT.

BELOW THE FIRST LAYERS OF SKIN CELLS ARE SPECIAL PIGMENT CELLS THAT MAKE MELANIN. WHEN YOUR SKIN IS EXPOSED TO MORE SUN MORE MELANIN IS PUSHED INTO THE SKIN.

PEOPLE WHO’S ANCESTORS LIVED IN AND AROUND THE EQUATOR HAVE DARKER SKIN TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE HARSHER SUN.

THOSE WHO CAME FROM NEAR THE POLES DIDN’T GET AS MUCH SUN SO THEIR SKIN DOESN’T NEED AS MUCH MELANIN SO IT STAYED LIGHTER.

AND FRECKLES ARE JUST BITS OF MELANIN IN THE SKIN.

MELANIN CAN’T PROTECT YOUR SKIN COMPLETELY. IF YOU GET TOO MUCH SUN YOU GET RED SUNBURN SO USE SUNSCREEN WHENEVER YOU GO OUT INTO THE SUN.

YOUR SKIN PROTECTS AND SHIELDS YOUR BODY. IT HELPS YOU FEEL YOUR WORLD AND SHOWS EVERYONE YOU ARE UNIQUE.