What will happen if unseen germs stay in our skin, hair and nails?
Answers
What Are the Parts of Skin?
Skin has three layers: the epidermis (pronounced: ep-ih-DUR-mis), dermis (pronounced: DUR-mis), and the subcutaneous (pronounced: sub-kyoo-TAY-nee-us) tissue.
The epidermis is the upper layer of skin. This tough, protective outer layer is thin in some areas and thick in others. The epidermis has layers of cells that constantly flake off and are renewed. In these layers are three special types of cells:
Melanocytes (pronounced: meh-LAH-nuh-sites) make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. All people have roughly the same number of melanocytes; the more melanin made, the darker the skin. Exposure to sunlight increases the production of melanin, which is why people get suntanned or freckled.
Keratinocytes (pronounced: ker-uh-TIH-no-sites) make keratin, a type of protein that's a basic component of hair, skin, and nails. Keratin in the skin's outer layer helps create a protective barrier.
Langerhans (pronounced: LAHNG-ur-hanz) cells help protect the body against infection.
Answer:
Skin is a barrier that serves as one of the body's first lines of defense against harmful microbes. Specialized immune cells within skin tissue help to fight invading organisms. Yet the skin hosts diverse communities of beneficial bacteria, collectively known as the skin microbiota.