What your skin does for you:
- Skin is the body’s primary defense system, acting as a physical and chemical barrier and shielding the internal tissues of the body from the outside environment. The skin protects internal tissues from ultraviolet radiation, free radicals, microorganisms, and other environmental hazards.
- Skin is the body’s primary regulator of temperature.
Most important in understanding skin function is understanding the epidermal permeability barrier, which plays a crucial role in your skin’s ability to perform its duties. In the past, much of the medical community believed a compromised permeability barrier was merely a symptom of skin disease. However, recent research suggests that a compromised barrier is actually a primary pathophysiological factor for many skin diseases (such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis). This means a compromised barrier leaves you vulnerable to an array of problems….