Unbroken skin blocks microbes from entering the body.
Dry, acidic skin surfaces prevent microbes from growing.
Microbes already living on the skin prevent growth by other microbes.
Sweat on the skin contains microbe-destroying lysozyme.
Fatty acids in skin oil destroy certain kinds of microbes.
Some microbes, such as the one that causes snail fever (bilharzia), can
penetrate the skin despite these defenses. The disease causes intestinal
and bladder problems.
(c)1999. American Museum of Natural History.
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