The skin is the largest organ in the body – its job is to provide a physical barrier to physically protect what’s inside it. But more importantly, the skin is a very important detoxifying organ.

The liver breaks down toxins, metabolic wastes  and poisons into a form that the kidneys can handle. The kidneys then filter these out of the blood and excrete them as urine.

If the liver and kidneys are in any way overloaded, compromised, or unhealthy, the skin will pick up the load and begin to rid the body of these wastes. This is the same whether you are a human, a horse, a dog or any other animal.

While it is better for you to continue to cleanse yourself by excreting toxins and wastes through your skin than it is for those things to remain in your body, there is a side effect.

Toxins and wastes are often acidic, and they are nearly always irritating.

If they stay on the skin they cause skin irritation – and you start scratching.

This is also true for animals.