What physiological process occurs when the skin is too hot?

When the skin is too hot, vasodilation occurs as a physiological response to help regulate body temperature. This process involves the widening of blood vessels, particularly those near the surface of the skin. As the blood vessels dilate, more blood flows to the skin's surface, which facilitates heat loss through radiation and convection. The increased blood flow also helps to cool the body down by allowing heat to escape into the environment, thereby aiding in thermoregulation.

In contrast, processes like vasoconstriction would reduce blood flow to the skin, serving to conserve heat rather than dissipate it. Shivering is a mechanism used to generate heat in response to cold temperatures, not heat. Piloerection, the raising of hair follicles, can also contribute to thermoregulation by trapping air for insulation, but it is less effective in cooling the body compared to vasodilation. Thus, when the body overheats, vasodilation becomes the key process for enhancing heat loss and maintaining a stable internal temperature.