Our show features the book It’s Just Skin, Silly!

Dr. Holly Y. McGee and Dr. Nina Jablonski

On this episode, we learn about the largest organ of our body-our skin! We learn about skin from the perspective of human history and culture from anthropologist Dr. Nina Jablonski and historian Dr. Holly Y. McGee and we also learn about the science of skin from pediatric dermatologist (children’s skin doctor), Dr. Adnan Mir.

We learn all about the story of our skin, how it makes us the same, some origins of discrimination based on skin color, and how the next generation can bring about positive change. We learn about our skin’s layers, as well as important ways to take care of our skin. Complete the activities below to challenge what you know and learn more!

Vocabulary

Vocabulary words can be found throughout the page in bold.

The Skin We’re In Is So Alike

In our show we heard each of our guests confirm that human skin is so much more alike than it is different. Dr.’s Jablonski and Mcgee explain that all human’s skin is 98-99% the same.The only thing that differs between people is the amount of melanin that skin has.

Melanin is a substance in your body that produces hair, eye, and skin pigmentation (or coloring). The more melanin you produce, the darker your features are. The amount of melanin in your body depends on your genes and how much sun exposure your ancestors experienced based on where they lived and the intensity of the sunlight in that place. Melanin allows us to absorb Vitamin D, which comes from ultraviolet radiation from the sun, which we need to help keep us healthy.

Of course, people move from one place to another for many reasons and have for hundreds of years. Over generations, as people moved, for example, to a place where sun is weaker, the radiation became weaker also, so they would lose melanin or pigment over time in order to accurately absorb Vitamin D. This is how different people end up with different skin colors, it’s all based on how much sun your ancestors were traditionally exposed to.

Dr. Mir agrees as he explains that everyones skin is the same beside the amount of melanin in it, under a microscope its all the same. This episode helps us learn that so much unnecessary meaning put into skin color. Our skin may have things that make us unique, such as its color, our birthmarks or freckles, but any differences in our skin are not bad things, just things that make us diverse, or different in variety. It’s important to understand that our skin is all the same in essence, any minor differences such as skin color should be celebrated, appreciated, and loved.

Anti-Racism

We heard Dr. Mcgee explain that she believes people treat others unfairly because they feel badly about themselves, to feel better about themselves, they make others feel worse. She also points out that ideas about people based on skin color is a legacy, or ideas that are passed down from previous generations. It is a legacy that is maintained through structural racism, the unfair treatment of some people that is built into systems of society throughout history. Ideas that people of darker skin color are inferior are built into society through laws, policies, writings, movies, schools, neighborhoods and more. It affects people in every aspect of their lives. Like receiving healthcare, housing, economic and job opportunities. The reason these ideas have stuck around is because the unfair treatment of people based on skin color benefits people who already have more power and priveleges. 

However, as our guests point out, we are at a moment in history where it’s a perfect time to work towards ending racial discrimination. The current generation of children are ready for a fair and just society. Youth have been playing important roles in recent social movements fighting for issues from gun control, to equality, and climate. They are also finding ways to enact Anti-Racism, or the practice of opposing or being against racism by actively promoting a fair and just society. Here are some ways that you can be anti-racist. 

–Learn about other cultures– read books and watch documentaries about other cultures. Find a calendar of community events through your local newspaper, libraries, churches, or community centers and attend events that are different from what you have done before.

-Be a friend- be kind and include everyone, think about expanding your friend group and invite other kids to play or work with you at school or at home.

-Watch and listen to diverse media- Find movies, shows, videos and music to enjoy that represent diverse people, places, and cultures.

-Speak up- when you see or hear someone being treated unfairly, stand up for the person being mistreated and tell a trusted adult.

The Layers of Our Skin

On our show we learned a lot from Dr. Adnan Mir, a pediatric dermatologist who joined us to talk about skin. He explained that skin is made up of different layers. The epidermis is the top layer of our skin. It has many functions including protecting the rest of our body from germs and harsh elements, producing new skin cells, and determining skin color.

The dermis is the middle layer, it holds sweat glands, nerves, blood vessels, produces hair and nails, and supplies blood to keep skin healthy. The bottom layer is known as the hypodermis, or the fatty tissue layer, it provides cushioning for muscles and bones, and helps control the body’s temperature. 

The layers of our skin work together to build a barrier, to help us control our temperature and sweat so we dont over heat, to absorb the right amount of sun rays to create vitamin D, and so much more. Our skin even works constantly to regenerate itself, every few weeks we shed our skin and regenerate new skin cells.

Taking Care of Our Skin

Dr. Mir answered some questions that also helped us learn how to keep our skin healthy. He explained that over time, proteins that hold skin together like collagen, elastic tissue, get lost after too much sun exposure and with age.

It is important to keep in mind the amount of exposure to the sun that we get. He explained that since people from all over have moved all over, we are likely exposed to more or less sunlight than what our melanin is prepared to handle. This is why it is very important to wear sunscreen. 

The use of sunscreen starting when youre young can prevent cancer, painful sunburn, and wrinkles.  He reminds us that it’s never too late to start wearing sunscreen.

Another question he answered ways about ways to prevent pimples. It helps to wash your face everyday with gentle soap, and people can also treat and prevent sever pimples, or ance, with special soaps and medications prescribed by a dermatologist like Dr. Mir.

Despite all the conditions your skin can get, freckles, sun spots, bug bites, albinism, birthmarks, and getting wrinkles with age, our skin is still an incredible organ that our body needs to survive, so its important to love the skin you’re in by taking care of it!