Skin protects and heals — Biology, 4–6 years
Skin is a living covering that separates the inside of the body from the outside world. It blocks many dangers and can mend a small cut.
Skin is a living shield
Your skin covers your whole body and forms a boundary around it. It helps keep useful water inside and keeps many dirt particles and germs outside, while nerve endings help you feel touch and heat.
Why do we need skin?
The inside of the body is delicate and needs a steady environment. Skin helps stop the body drying out, blocks some germs and cushions small knocks, so we can move through the world more safely.
A small scrape
First, a knee scrapes against the ground and the skin breaks. A little blood helps clean the place, then a clot forms a cover. Over the next days, new skin grows underneath until the mark becomes smaller.
A scab is not dirt
A brown scab can look like dirt, so wanting to pick it off is understandable. It is actually a temporary cover made while the skin repairs itself, and pulling it away can reopen the wound.
Looking after skin
Soap and water can remove dirt and germs from skin, while a plaster can cover a small clean cut. Shade, clothing and sunscreen can help protect skin from too much sunlight, which can damage it.
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