Skin, Our Largest, Hottest, and Coolest Organ: From Cancer to Cosmetics

Harvard FAS

Skin provides a protective barrier that is vital to the survival of all multicellular organisms. Its physical properties have been exploited for centuries, from clothing to footballs, and yet skin is a vibrant and dynamic organ that responds to environmental signals in myriad ways. Skin protects humans from toxic exposures but can also be an intrinsic source of dangerous diseases. While its defects only rarely kill humans, its imperfections can cause misery and discomfort, ranging from subtle…