The Skin: Touch and Care

1What the skin does

The skin covers your whole body. It is the largest organ of the body. It has many jobs:

• Touch: millions of tiny nerve endings in the skin feel heat, cold, pain, pressure, and rough or smooth things. Your fingertips and lips are extra sensitive.
• Protection: it keeps germs and dirt out of your body and protects the parts inside.
• Cooling: when you are hot, you sweat. As the sweat dries, it cools your body.
• Keeping water in: it stops your body from drying out.
• Vitamin D: when sunlight falls on the skin, the skin makes vitamin D, which you need for strong bones.

2Common skin problems

• Ringworm: round, itchy patches, caused by a fungus. It spreads by sharing towels, combs and clothes.
• Scabies: very itchy spots, caused by tiny mites that spread from person to person.
• Burns, cuts and sunburn.

3Caring for your skin

• Bathe every day with clean water and soap, and dry yourself well.
• Wear clean clothes.
• Keep your nails short and clean.
• Wash cuts with clean water and cover them with a clean bandage.
• Do not share towels, combs or clothes.
• Stay away from fire and hot water, and keep out of strong sun at midday.
• Drink water and eat fruits and vegetables.
• See a health worker for a rash, an itch that will not stop, or a sore that does not heal.

Try it yourself

Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.