The skin has many purposes, it:

• protects the body from injury and infection
• helps to regulate body temperature
• gets rid of waste substances through the sweat glands.

The skin is divided into two main layers. The layer nearest the surface is known as the epidermis and the layer underneath is known as the dermis.

The epidermis contains three types of cells. On the surface are flat cells, known as squamous cells. Under the layer of squamous cells are rounder cells called basal cells. In between the basal cells are the melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the pigment melanin. It is this pigment that gives skin its colour variations.