Information About Skin

Your skin -- your body's largest organ -- is made of three main layers that serve different purposes. These layers include:

The epidermis is responsible for protecting you from harmful things in the environment. It is also the thinnest layer of your skin. The dermis, which is found just below the epidermis, is the layer where your skin's blood vessels, hair follicles, and oil glands are located. It contains nerve endings and special cells that allow you to feel pain and touch. The hypodermis, also known as the fatty skin layer, conserves your body's heat and helps protect the important organs inside of your body.