After stabilizing the patient and cleaning out the wound, the next step is to cover it. The need to cover wounds as quickly as possible while minimizing scarring and additional trauma has driven development of advanced wound dressings and skin substitutes. Skin Deep Surgeons also agree that no single product or technique is right for every burn situation. And so far, there's no true replacement for healthy, intact skin, which is the body's largest organ, and one of the most complex. It's the first line of defense against infection and dehydration, but it's more than just a physical barrier.
Skin also helps control temperature, through adjustments of blood flow and evaporation of sweat.
It's an important sensory organ, too. Thick or thin, it has two layers. The thin outer epidermis is nourished from the thicker, more sensitive dermis below. The outermost surface is a tough, protective coating of dead, flat cells resembling paving stones. As these cells wear away, they're replaced from beneath.