TLDR Keratin helps skin cells mature when added to a collagen mix, which could be important for skin and hair health.
The study "Keratin Promotes Differentiation of Keratinocytes Seeded on Collagen/Keratin Hydrogels" found that adding keratin to a collagen hydrogel significantly increased the differentiation of keratinocytes, the primary cells in the skin's outer layer. This was indicated by increased lysosomal activity and the expression of involucrin, a differentiation marker. The addition of calcium further enhanced this differentiation. The study suggests that keratin plays a crucial role in promoting keratinocyte differentiation, which could have implications for skin health and hair growth. The study involved multiple experiments, each with a sample size of 4 or 60.
375 citations,
June 2013 in “Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular cell research” Cornification is how skin cells die to form the protective outer layer of skin, hair, and nails.
277 citations,
July 2011 in “Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association” The skin's layers protect, sense, and regulate the body's internal balance, but can be prone to cancer.
517 citations,
February 2010 in “Materials” Keratin from hair and wool is used in medical materials for healing and drug delivery.
8 citations,
July 2022 in “Biomedicines” Autophagy helps keep skin healthy and may improve treatments for skin diseases.
November 2023 in “Linköping University medical dissertations” Keratinocytes and adipose-derived stem cells can effectively heal difficult skin wounds.
25 citations,
December 2021 in “Stem Cell Research & Therapy” MSCs and their exosomes may speed up skin wound healing but need more research for consistent use.
127 citations,
June 2008 in “British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology” Low doses of some substances can be beneficial, while high doses can be harmful or toxic.
36 citations,
August 2022 in “Molecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids” Gene therapy shows promise for healing chronic wounds but needs more research to overcome challenges.
