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How the skin reacts to environmental factors: A review

The skin is the largest organ in the body, acting as a barrier, an area of exchange and an immunological and sensory center. It is exposed to a variety of environmental factors including physical, chemical, biological and psychosocial components. The most studied physical factor is that of ultraviolet radiation. Skin reacts to various environmental insults in several different ways. These include the production of dry or greasy, irritated, reactive, allergic or atopic skin. The majority of irritative, atopic, allergic or reactive skins tend to be dry (Misery, L. J EADV 2007, 21 (Suppl. 2): 5-8).