[Skin as a universal organ as reflected throughout history]

In ancient medicine the skin was regarded as an organ in and of itself, as "soma organikon," and even as the largest organ of all. Keeping in mind the historical background, we examine: 1. skin as reflected by speech and proverbs; 2. skin as a world of its own, concerned with feeling, grasping, comprehension; 3. skin, according to tradition, as an organ reflecting almost every pathological and regenerative process. The paper is presented in the form of an essay and a historical survey is given; there is no intent to provide information on systematic or specific problems of dermatology.