In this conference paper, Frédéric LEFRANÇOIS, Doctor of Literature, discusses the concept of the skin-ego. The human epidermis, the outer surface of the soul, has become the seat of conflict between Europe, Africa and Asia. To develop the concept, he sets out to answer a question: "Is the skin-self a protective or alienating envelope? "His answer is based on the work of David BOXER and Stan MUSQUER. In his view, the skin-self is an agent of inclusion or exclusion, depending on the socio-cultural or ethnic context in which an individual finds himself.