Protective Functions At a Glance
The skin protects the body from mechanical, chemical, microbial and physical influences.
Skin protects us from the following:
- 1 Cold, heat, radiation
- 2 Pressure, blows, abrasion
- 3 Chemical substances
- 4 Invasion by microorganisms (formation of the protective acid mantle)
- 5 Heat and water loss
Skin also performs the following functions:
- 6 Defends against invading microorganisms
- 7 Absorbs certain substances
- 8 Perspiration (cooling)
- 9 Circulatory and thermal regulation by means of the dermal vascular system
- 10 Pressure, vibration, tactile, pain and temperature sensory organs
Damaging influence
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Protective mechanism
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| Mechanical trauma |
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Thickening of the horny layer (callus formation) Elasticity of the dermis and subcutaneous fatty tissue |
| Alkaline noxae |
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Buffer capacity of the hydrolipid film and protective acid mantle |
| Penetration of skin bacteria |
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Permeability barrier of the horny layer protective acid mantle and harmful substances |
| Dehydration |
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Hydrolipids, epidermal lipids natural moisturizing factors (NMF) |
| UV radiation |
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Increased melanin formation, light-induced thickening |
| Heat |
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Perspiration, widening of the vessels in the skin |
| Cold |
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Contraction of the vessels in the skin |
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