What is the primary purpose of skin?

Skin is the largest organ in the body and is made up of three layers:  the epidermis (top layer), the dermis (middle layer), and the hypodermis (bottom fatty layer).  Skin has many functions, but the main purpose is to protect your body from outside threats like toxins, germs, UV light, trauma, and changes in temperature.  Nerves in your skin allow you to sense touch, pain, hot, and cold.  Your skin is also part of the body’s immune system and contains cells that help fight off infection, and it helps regulate your body temperature through its sweat glands.  Your skin also cushions muscles and bones from injury, like when you fall.  And here is a fun fact:  your skin continuously regenerates so that you have new skin every 1 to 2 months.