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You Are Here >> Your Skin >> Skin - Quick Facts
Skin - Quick Facts
Page 1
Your skin is an incredible organ and is the largest organ of your body.
Your skin weighs between 6 and 9 pounds.
Your skins surface area is about 2 square yards.
There is thin and hairy skin, which is more widespread on the body, and there is thick and hairless skin, which is found on parts of the body that are used heavily and endure a large amount of friction, like the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet.
Your skin is always protecting your body from external agents, separating the inside of your body from the outside world.
Your skin protects you from dangerous bacteria. The skin contains secretions that can kill bacteria.
Your skin protects you from viruses, infections, chemicals, ultraviolet rays, injury, and temperature (cold and heat).
Your Aging Skin
As you age, your skin might get wrinkles, age spots, and dryness. Your skin also becomes thinner and loses fat, making it less plump and smooth, and your skin might take longer to heal.
The Sun
The sun is a major cause of skin aging. Protect yourself by staying out of the sun when it is the strongest. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Wear protective clothing. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
Cigarettes
Cigarette smoking contributes to wrinkles. Wrinkling increases with the amount of cigarettes you smoke and the number of years you have smoked.
Aging Skin and Wrinkle Products
There are many products for sale that claim to revitalize aging skin and/or reduce wrinkles. The Food and Drug Administration has approved only a few for sun damaged and/or aging skin. Some treatments soothe dry skin and reduce the appearance of age spots.
Page 2 Skin - Quick Facts
References:
1) MedlinePlus - National Library of Medicine (NLM) - July 2007 - www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
2) SEER's Training Web Site - Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) - training.seer.cancer.gov
3) The Library of Congress - Research Centers - Science Reference Services - March 2007 - www.loc.gov
4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Division of Cancer Prevention and Control - National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion - April 2007 - www.cdc.gov