The Remarkable Life of the Skin: An Intimate Journey Across our Largest Organ

Weighing in at twenty pounds, more or less, our skin is the largest organ in our bodies. It is responsible for our appearance, but its importance has often been overlooked. In this remarkable book reminding us of the significance of this integumentary body, English dermatologist Monty Lyman takes the reader on a revelatory inspection of this structure.

While the skin envelops the body, it is also host to multitudes of microbes and insects that live symbiotically on the substrate, and some can become overly annoying, such as mites causing the horrid itch of scabies. Think of the senses provided by your skin, the sexy feel of touch, the pressure of pain, the warning of heat, and more.

Your identity is found in your fingerprints, although a very few individuals lack this defining imprint. The difference between a blush and a flush is clearly described, while wrinkles take some discussion, with the advice being that they reflect part of our character. Pigments in skin are natural, but the lack of them can be dangerous in parts of Africa, while too much melanin may be associated with negative feelings.

The skin works with the immune system and also reflects our mental states. For instance, psoriasis has been shown to be effectively treated by recent medical advances, but it can also be cured by hypnosis and meditation.

The reader is exposed to the wondrous world of the skin through the delightful stories, descriptions, and explanatory diagrams presented in this book.