Learn More
See, Play and Learn
Resources
For You
Summary
What does your skin do?
Your skin is your body's largest organ. It covers the entire outside of your body. There are many ways that your skin protects your body and helps keep you healthy. For example, it:
- Holds body fluids in, which helps prevent you from getting dehydrated
- Keeps out harmful germs, which helps prevent infections
- Helps you feel things like heat, cold, and pain
- Helps control your body temperature
- Makes vitamin D when the sun shines on it
- Shields your body against heat and light
What problems and conditions can affect your skin?
There are many different problems and conditions which can affect your skin. Some of them can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as itching, burning, redness, and rashes. They might also affect your appearance. Some of the more common skin conditions include:
- Acne, which causes pimples when hair follicles under your skin get clogged up
- Burns
- Cuts and scrapes
- Dandruff, flaking of the skin on your scalp (the top of your head)
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis), which causes inflammation, redness, and irritation of the skin
- Hives, which are red and sometimes itchy bumps on your skin
- Insect bites
- Psoriasis, which causes itchy, scaly red patches
- Skin cancer
- Skin infections
How can I keep my skin healthy?
Since your skin protects your body in many ways, it's important to try to keep your skin healthy. For example, you can:
- Wear the right protective equipment, like gloves, long sleeves, knee and elbow pads, or helmets to protect against cuts, bumps and scrapes.
- If you do get a cut or scrape, clean it right away with soap and warm water. Put on a bandage to protect it while it heals.
- When you are spending time outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants and use insect repellant to prevent insect bites.
- Prevent sunburn by covering up and using sunscreen when outdoors.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water.
- When you take a shower or bath, use warm (not hot) water. Use mild cleansers and wash gently (don't scrub).
- Use moisturizers, like lotions, creams, or ointments, to prevent dry skin.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Diagnosis and Tests
- Rash Evaluation (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Skin Biopsy (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Skin Cancer Screening (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Skin Rashes and Other Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Wood's Lamp Examination (VisualDX)
Prevention and Risk Factors
- How to Protect Yourself from Job-Related Skin Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Skin Care: 5 Tips for Healthy Skin (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Cryosurgery (VisualDX)
- Dermatology Procedures (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
- Electrodesiccation (VisualDX)
- Laser Resurfacing (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)
- Products Marketed for Removing Moles and Other Skin Lesions Can Cause Injuries, Scarring (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
- Skin graft - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Treatment of Actinic Keratosis (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- Skin Problems in Construction (Center for Construction Research and Training) - PDF
Specifics
- Delusional parasitosis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
- Dermatographia (Dermatographism) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Dry Skin (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Dry Skin (Xerosis) (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Ectodermal Dysplasia (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) Also in Spanish
- Epidermolysis Bullosa (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish
- Lichen Planus: Overview (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Lichen Sclerosus (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Lichen Striatus (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
- Pachyonychia Congenita (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
- Pityriasis Rosea: Overview (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- What Is Ichthyosis? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish
Genetics
- Adams-Oliver syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Adermatoglyphia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Ankyloblepharon-ectodermal defects-cleft lip/palate syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Bart-Pumphrey syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Blau syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Clouston syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Cole disease: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform erythroderma and limb defects: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- CYLD cutaneous syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Dyskeratosis congenita: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Epidermal nevus: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Epidermolysis bullosa simplex: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Erythrokeratodermia variabilis et progressiva: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Familial pityriasis rubra pilaris: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Focal dermal hypoplasia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Harlequin ichthyosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma with tendon contractures, myopathy, and pulmonary fibrosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Hystrix-like ichthyosis with deafness: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Ichthyosis with confetti: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Incontinentia pigmenti: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Junctional epidermolysis bullosa: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Keratoderma with woolly hair: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Lamellar ichthyosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Laryngo-onycho-cutaneous syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Lipoid proteinosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Majeed syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Mal de Meleda: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Microphthalmia with linear skin defects syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Multiple pterygium syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Naegeli-Franceschetti-Jadassohn syndrome/dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Nakajo-Nishimura syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Netherton syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Nonsyndromic aplasia cutis congenita: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Pachyonychia congenita: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Palmoplantar keratoderma with deafness: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Peeling skin syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Poikiloderma with neutropenia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Rothmund-Thomson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Scalp-ear-nipple syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Sjögren-Larsson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Steatocystoma multiplex: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Trichothiodystrophy: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- UV-sensitive syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Vohwinkel syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Images
- Actinic Keratosis (Solar Keratosis) (VisualDX)
- Capillaritis (VisualDX)
- Cutaneous Horn (VisualDX)
- Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra (VisualDX)
- Epidermoid Cyst (VisualDX)
- Erythema Nodosum (VisualDX)
- Fordyce Spots (VisualDX)
- Granuloma Annulare (VisualDX)
- Intertrigo (VisualDX)
- Keratoacanthoma (VisualDX)
- Keratosis Pilaris (VisualDX)
- Lichen Planus (VisualDX)
- Lobular Capillary Hemangioma (Pyogenic Granuloma) (VisualDX)
- Milia (VisualDX)
- Notalgia Paresthetica (VisualDX)
- Poikiloderma of Civatte (VisualDX)
- Razor Bumps (Pseudofolliculitis Barbae) (VisualDX)
- Scaly Skin (Ichthyosis Vulgaris) (VisualDX)
- Sebaceous Hyperplasia (VisualDX)
- Seborrheic Keratoses (VisualDX)
- Skin Tag (Acrochordon) (VisualDX)
- Stasis Dermatitis (VisualDX)
- Striae (Stretch Marks) (VisualDX)
- Syringoma (VisualDX)
- Xerosis (VisualDX)
Videos and Tutorials
- Components of skin (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Statistics and Research
- Skin Conditions by the Numbers (American Academy of Dermatology)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Skin Diseases (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
- Dermatology Terms (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Find an Expert
- American Academy of Dermatology
- American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish
Children
- Health Lesson: Learning About Skin (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
- Splinters and Other Foreign Bodies in the Skin (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
- What Are Freckles? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Your Skin (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Cellulite (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Pityriasis Rosea (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
Women
- Common Skin Conditions during Pregnancy (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Cryotherapy for the skin (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Cutaneous skin tag (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Dry skin - self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Epidermoid cyst (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Erythema multiforme (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Gianotti-Crosti syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Granuloma annulare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Keratosis pilaris (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Lichen planus (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Milia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Seborrheic keratosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Skin lesion removal (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Skin lesion removal - aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Stasis dermatitis and ulcers (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish