Skin weighs how much

If you were to tear off and spread out the average adult's skin, it would cover approximately square feet 2 square meters. At up to 1. Oil glands stop skin drying out. Skin cells are continuously shredded and replaced. And that's because the heaviest organ is not one that most people would consider an organ at all, nor would one expect it to be so heavy.

The skin consists of three layers: the epidermis , dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The thickness of skin varies greatly throughout the body. For example, the delicate skin around your eyes is only as thick as a few sheets of paper; the pads on your feet are about as thick as a pencil eraser. The new cells are pushed towards the surface of your skin. They eventually die and become filled with keratin, an exceptionally tough protein. Keratin provides your body with a durable overcoat, which protects deeper cells from damage, infection and drying out.

Cells on the surface of your skin rub and flake off steadily and are continuously replaced with new ones. About every 30 days, your body produces a totally new epidermis. Your inner dermis consists of strong collagen and elastic fibres pierced by blood vessels.

It also contains touch, pressure and pain sensors and is packed with hair follicles, sweat and oil glands. The oil glands produce a lubricant that keeps your skin soft and prevents your hair from becoming brittle. Your skin's blood vessels, sweat glands and hairs play a crucial role in regulating your body temperature. Engineered from cow-tendon collagen, shark cartilage, and silicone, this skin substitute, Integra, helps surgeons close burn wounds until new skin grows in.

All rights reserved. Melanomas Each adhesive dot on former Banbury, Australia, lifeguard Don Bennewith represents a removed melanoma.

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