Body & Exterior

In zootomy and dermatology, skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues that guard underlying muscles and organs. more...

Home
ATV Parts
Apparel & Merchandise
Automotive Tools
Aviation Parts
Boats Parts
Car & Truck Parts
Car Audio, Video
Manuals & Literature
Motorcycle Parts
Other
Other Vehicle Parts
Personal Watercraft Parts
Racing Parts
Accessories
Auto Racing Parts
Body & Exterior
Chassis, Suspension & Brakes
Driveline & Transmission
Other
Rear End
Transmission
Electrical
Chips, Programmers
Ignition
Other
Wiring Kits
Engine & Components
Exhaust
Fuel Systems
Fuel Injection & Pumps
Fuel Pressure Regulators
Hoses, Lines & Fittings
Other
Induction
Carburetors
Cold Air Intake
Forced Induction
Intake Manifolds
Nitrous Oxide
Other
Interior
Gauges
Other
Seats
Other
Wheels & Tires
Fasteners, Fluids & Gaskets
Kart Racing Parts
Other
Safety Equipment
Services & Installation
Snowmobile Parts
Vintage Car & Truck Parts
Wholesale Lots

Skin pigmentation (see: human skin color or coloring) varies among populations, and skin type can range from dry skin to oily skin.

The adjective cutaneous literally means "of the skin" (from Latin cutis, skin).

As the interface with the surroundings, skin plays the most important role in protecting (the body) against pathogens. Its other main functions are insulation and temperature regulation, sensation, and synthesis of vitamin D and the protection of vitamin B folates.

Severely damaged skin will try to heal by forming scar tissue, often giving rise to discoloration and depigmentation of the skin.

The use of natural or synthetic cosmetics to treat the appearance of the face and condition of the skin (such as pore control and black head cleansing) is common among many cultures. Oily skin is caused by hormonal fluctuations in the body, which lead to a DHT sensitivity. This sensitivity means that the skin begins to lose moisture and essential fatty acids (linoleic acid in particular), causing thousands of skin cells to die, so the skin compensates for this loss of moisture by producing higher levels of oil. Oily skin can be cleaned quickly with a mild solution of detergent, when pure bath soaps fail (see below: Hygiene). Afterward, body lotions could be used to recondition cleansed skin, as would be used to treat dry skin.

Skin components

Also see below: Skin layers, at bottom.

Skin has pigmentation, or melanin, provided by melanocytes, which absorb some of the potentially dangerous ultraviolet radiation (UV) in sunlight. It also contains DNA repair enzymes which help to reverse UV damage, and people who lack the genes for these enzymes suffer high rates of skin cancer. One form predominantly produced by UV light, malignant melanoma, is particularly invasive, causing it to spread quickly, and can often be deadly. Human skin pigmentation varies among populations in a striking manner. This has led to the classification of people(s) on the basis of skin color.

Mammalian skin often contains hairs, which in sufficient density is called fur. The hair mainly serves to augment the insulation the skin provides, but can also serve as a secondary sexual characteristic or as camouflage. On some animals, the skin is very hard and thick, and can be processed to create leather. Reptiles and fish have hard protective scales on their skin for protection, and birds have hard feathers, all made of tough β-keratins. Amphibian skin is not a strong barrier to passage of chemicals and is often subject to osmosis. A frog sitting in an anesthetic solution could quickly go to sleep.

Read more at Wikipedia.org