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
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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
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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
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February 2010 in “Materials” Keratin from hair and wool is used in medical materials for healing and drug delivery.
8 citations
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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
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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
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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
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August 2022 in “Molecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids” Gene therapy shows promise for healing chronic wounds but needs more research to overcome challenges.
