Skin moisture and heat transfer

One of the functions of the skin is to exchange heat. Heat normally leaves the body by convection, conduction, evaporation, and radiation. It can also be gained by conduction and radiation from outside sources. Pivotal in the exchange of heat is the moisture content of the skin. Skin moisture plays a critical role in the conductive heat movement both across and through the skin. Skin blood flow, a primary means of moving heat across the skin, is a function of the moisture content of the skin; the skin reducing blood flow to a given stimulus if the skin is dry. Therefore, normal senescence of the skin due to aging and diabetes increases skin dryness and reduces the ability of the skin to transfer heat.