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How does the skin help protect the body from infection?
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human disease
The routine monitoring of blood pressure levels is an important part of assessing an individual's health. Blood pressure provides information about the amount of blood in circulation and about heart function and thus is an important indicator of disease.
The skin serves as a vital primary defense against infection by acting as a robust mechanical and chemical barrier between the body’s interior and the external environment.12
Its protective mechanisms include:
- Mechanical Barrier: The epidermis consists of a tough, constantly renewing outer layer of cells containing keratin. This structure prevents infectious microorganisms and harmful environmental agents from entering the body.12
- Chemical Defense: Skin glands secrete oily substances, including fatty acids like oleic acid, which can destroy certain bacteria. Additionally, these glands produce lysozyme, an enzyme capable of breaking down the cell walls of specific bacteria.1
The importance of this barrier is highlighted by the fact that individuals with severe burns—which destroy the skin's integrity—are at a significantly higher risk of developing infections from otherwise harmless bacteria.1