Functions of the skin. Body organs aren't all internal like the brain or the heart. There's one we wear on the outside. Skin is our largest organ—adults carry some 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) and 22 square feet (2 square meters) of it. This fleshy covering does a lot more than make us look presentable. In fact, without it, we'd literally evaporate.

Skin acts as a waterproof, insulating shield, guarding the body against extremes of temperature, damaging sunlight, and harmful chemicals. It also exudes antibacterial substances that prevent infection and manufactures vitamin D for converting calcium into healthy bones. Skin additionally is a huge sensor packed with nerves for keeping the brain in touch with the outside world. At the same time, skin allows us free movement, proving itself an amazingly versatile organ.

Skin is made up of 3 layers. The outermost is the epidermis. This consists mainly of cells called keratinocytes, made from the tough protein keratin (also the material in hair & nails). Keratinocytes form several layers that constantly grow outwards as the exterior cells die & flake off. It takes roughly 5 weeks for newly created cells to work their way to the surface. This covering of dead skin is known as the stratum corneum, or horny layer, & it’s thickness varies considerably, being more than ten times thicker on the soles of the feet than around the eyes. The epidermis harbors defensive Langerhans cells, which alert the body's immune system to viruses & other infectious agents.

The human body performs amazing feats every day, from sending signals rocketing through the brain at high speed to distributing oxygen over 1,600 kilometres of airways.

The epidermis is bonded to a deeper skin layer below known as the dermis, which gives the organ its strength & elasticity thanks to fibers of collagen & elastin. Blood vessels here help regulate body temperature by increasing blood flow to the skin to allow heat to escape, or by restricting the flow when it's cold. A network of nerve fibers & receptors pick up feelings such as touch, temperature, & pain, relaying them to the brain.

The dermis houses hair follicles & glands with ducts that pass up through the skin. Sweat glands bring down internal temperature through perspiration while ridding the body of the waste fluids urea & lactate. Apocrine glands, which develop during puberty, produce a scented sweat linked to sexual attraction that can also cause body odour, especially around the armpits. Sebaceous glands secrete oil-like sebum for lubricating the hair & skin.

The skin's base layer is the subcutaneous, which includes a seam of fat laid down as a fuel reserve in case of food shortage. It also works as insulation & cushions us from injury.

Skin colour is due to melanin, a pigment produced in the epidermis to protect us from the sun's potentially cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) rays. Darker-skinned people produce more numerous & deeper-coloured melanin particles. People with the darkest complexions are native to tropical regions, particularly those with few densely forested areas.

Fair skin is an adaptation found in people from northern latitudes where solar rays are relatively weak. Here the benefits of dark skin are outweighed by the need for bone-strengthening vitamin D, produced through exposure to UV rays. But hotter, sunnier environments bring the risk of serious skin damage. Australia, where the majority of the population is of northern European descent, has the world's highest rates of skin cancer, accounting for more than 80% of all cancers diagnosed there each year.

Look after & protect your skin. If you want to improve your skins health & appearance, book a complimentary skin consultation with a Nik @ Mojo Beauty www.mojobeauty.co.nz

If face scrubs, moisturisers, and exfoliators aren’t helping your skin to look bright and smooth, dermal needling could be the treatment you need to restore your youthful glow. Micro dermal needling is a treatment that improves the appearance of a range of skin concerns by boosting the body’s natural collagen and elastin production. It’s used to treat everything from acne scars and pigmentation to enlarged pores and visible signs of ageing. There’s also minimal downtime, so you don’t need to hide away for a week post-procedure.

Otherwise known as Collagen Induction Therapy, the micro-needles penetrate the skins top layers & create pin-point injuries in the deeper layers. This triggers the body’s natural wound healing response. New collagen and elastin is formed naturally within the skin to reduce wrinkle depth, increase skin elasticity and improve the appearance of scars, large pores & other skin flaws.

If you’re someone who has the means and uses trips to the spa as a way to unwind and destress, then there’s no harm in treating yourself as often as once a week – given that it’s not an invasive procedure like dermal needling, and your skin can handle it, that is.

Facials are deep-cleansing treatments usually performed by aestheticians that provide extraction, hydration, and moisturisation of the skin. They are best performed in series and should be done every four to six weeks to achieve maximum efficacy and consistent effects.