Surprising Facts About Your Skin

Your skin is truly amazing. You may not give much thought to your skin, but that does not mean that it’s not working hard for you every minute of every day. Medically termed the Integumentary System, your skin is more than just a body covering for your bones, muscles, and organs. Your skin is actually an organ itself – the largest organ of your body! Learning about how your skin functions and its primary roles can help you live a healthier life because your skin plays a vital role in your overall health.

Your skin’s appearance may define your ancestry, but there is a lot more to your skin than its outer appearance. Here are some surprising facts about your skin that will give you a new appreciation for this truly complex organ.

• The average adult has nearly 21 square feet of skin that cover 11 miles of blood vessels.
• Skin accounts for approximately 15% of your body weight.
• There are around 300 million skin cells on your body. A single square inch of skin has about 19 million cells and 300 sweat glands.
• Your skin renews itself every 28 days.
• You shed about 9 pounds of dead skin cells every year.
• Some of the dust in your home is probably dead skin.
• The thickest skin is found on your feet.
• The thinnest skin is found on your eyelids.
• Skin can become thicker if exposed to repeated friction, forming a callus.
• Your skin is home to more than 1,000 species of bacteria.
• Some of the nerves in your skin are connected to muscles to help you react quickly to extreme temperature or pain.
• Sleep is vital for healthy, vibrant skin.
• Taking good care of your skin is essential to a healthy life.

These surprising facts are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of the largest bodily organ. Kayal Dermatology’s skincare experts have the knowledge and compassion to help you take care of your skin. We treat patients of all ages. Contact our practice today.