Your skin is your largest organ and a crucial part of several bodily functions. Not only is it the flexible, self-healing barrier that supports the immune system, but it's also part of the integumentary system, the network of dead epidermal cells --hair, fingernails and toenails -- that helps slough off cellular waste material. Sweat glands in the skin also play active roles in the excretory system, or the organs and glands that flush out toxins and excess minerals from the body.
Dead skin cells are a form of bodily waste that facilitates the growth of new epidermal cells. Every minute, you lose 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells, all of which are replaced immediately by fresh skin tissue [source: KidsHealth.org]. The body does an excellent job of sloughing off skin cells through normal activity, but regular bathing is definitely a plus.
