Why does a cut on your skin need to be protected against infection?

Skin is the bodies first line of defense. The different layers of skin literally block bacteria like a forcefield. Bacteria lives on our skin because it cant get in. When the skin is broken, or germs find a way in through the mouth, nose etc, we get sick. If we had no skin, we would get so sick so fast, the we would not live. That is why 3rd degree burn patients need to be put in a sterile room sometimes.

The top layer (dead epidermis) sheds off the skin every moment, taking all the bacteria with it. This keeps them from staying on too long.

Without skin you could not process waste and your organs/ blood would go everywhere, killing you. If that didn't do it first, millions of bacteria would finish you off in about an hour.

- Found answer from David F on Yahoo Answers.