Skin is the largest organ in your body. Its purpose is to protect your muscles, bones and organs, to keep your body at the proper temperature and to give you the sense of touch. Skin is also the most visible body organ because it covers us fully from head to toe.

Skin is made up of three layersthe epidermis, the dermis and subcutaneous fat. Each layer is responsible for governing different functions of the skin.

The epidermis is the outer part of the skin that you can see and actually consists of dead skin cells. Ninety-five percent of cells in the epidermis work to make new skin cells that take about two weeks to one month to move toward the top of the epidermis, leaving the dead skin cells at the surface. The older cells are strong and make a perfect protective covering for your body. Five percent of the cells in the epidermis make a substance known as melanin, which gives your skin its color.

The dermis cannot be seen because it is the next layer under the epidermis. The dermis contains nerve endings that work with your brain and nervous system to give you a sense of touch. It also contains tiny blood vessels that maintain the health of skin cells by transporting oxygen and nutrients to them and remove waste. Oil glands, formally known as sebaceous glands, also exist within the dermis and produce sebum. Sebum is the natural oil made by skin to lubricate and protect your skin, as well as render it waterproof to the elements. Finally, your sweat glands are also located in your dermis. Sweat is constantly released by tiny holes in the skin known as pores and serves to regulate the skin's temperature and form a protective film on the skin.

The subcutaneous layers is the bottom layer of skin and is made up of mostly fat, which helps our body stay warm and absorbs the impact of shocks, such as falling or banging. This layer also holds your skin to the tissues beneath it and is the area where hair follicles begin.

The best way to take care of the skin we are in is to be aware of what makes this organ work, keep our skin clean and eat healthy foods.