What is keratin

What is keratin? Keratin is a kind of dead skin, which is what we call exfoliation in daily life. Each cell in a normal human body needs to carry out metabolism to get rid of bad waste. For the skin, this means getting rid of some rough skin. Most people don't need to consider exfoliation, but when some people have dull skin and uneven skin tone due to exfoliation, they need to exfoliate. And as you age, you will have more keratin.

Now that you know what keratin is, you need to know more about whether exfoliation is suitable for everyone. The answer is no. Exfoliation is not suitable for young people, sensitive skin with acne and pimples, and skin with red blood streaks. Do not use some products blindly and hurt your skin.

Cutin is the main component of plant cuticle. It is not a single substance, but a polymer of highly unsaturated higher fatty acids (hydroxy C18 fatty acids). The composition of cutin can vary greatly depending on the type of plant. Cutin is the skeleton material of the cuticle, and generally exists in layers on the surface of stems and leaves. In addition, it also exists on the free surfaces of mesophyll cells that are in contact with the air within the tissue. The cuticle covering the outside of the stratum corneum has a high degree of oxidative polymerization and is infiltrated with a considerable amount of wax. In contrast, the arrangement direction of the molecules within the layer shows obvious polarity. Certain parts with this polarity can combine with water through hydrogen bonds, while non-polar carbon-hydrogen chains can only absorb water through very weak van der Waals forces. This has an impact on the surface of the cuticle, that is, the contact angle of water droplets attached to the plant surface.

The stratum corneum is composed of 5 to 10 layers of dead flat keratinocytes, whose nuclei and organelles have completely disappeared. Under the electron microscope, the stratum corneum cells are filled with densely packed parallel keratin tension filaments immersed in amorphous substances, mainly histidine-rich proteins contained in transparent keratin. There is a layer of insoluble protein about 12nm thick attached to the inner surface of the cell membrane, making the cell membrane thicker and stronger. The surface of the cell membrane is wrinkled and uneven, the cells are interlocked, and the intercellular spaces are filled with lipid substances released by the keratinocyte granules. Desmosomes can still be seen between the stratum corneum cells near the transparent layer, while the desmosomes in the surface cells of the stratum corneum disappear, making them easy to fall off and form dandruff. The keratin is not easily visible in the skin. It is about the same color as the skin and feels bumpy to the touch. Generally, people are more likely to grow obvious keratin when they are over 30 years old. It will appear earlier if the skin quality is poor and later if the skin quality is good.

The important chemical component of the stratum corneum is cutin, which is a hydroxy fatty acid containing 16 to 18 carbons. The stratum corneum is often divided into two layers. The stratum corneum, which is close to the outer wall of the epidermal cells and is composed of cutin and cellulose; outside the cell wall is a thinner stratum corneum composed of cutin or a mixture of wax. The thickness of the cuticle is greatly affected by the environment. Leaves grown in arid and sunny conditions have thicker cuticles and contain more wax; while leaves grown in water or in a humid environment have thinner cuticles or even no wax at all.

The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue; the surface layer of the skin is divided into five layers, from bottom to top: basal layer, spinous cell layer, granular layer, clear layer, and stratum corneum. Skin cells begin to grow from the basal layer and go through a process of aging and death as they move outward. Keratin is the final product of the continuous regeneration of epidermal cells. If the stratum corneum on the skin surface is thick, the skin will lose its luster, become gray, peel, develop wrinkles, and develop acne. The cycle of skin keratinization is about one month, so beauty experts emphasize exfoliation once every 28 days. Hair, nails, and the stratum corneum on the surface of the skin are all keratin. Cuticle is a layer of tissue on the epidermis of certain animals and plants. It is tough in texture and composed of shell, lime, etc. It has the function of protecting internal tissues.

The above introduces what keratin is. I believe you must have a more comprehensive understanding of keratin. If you want to have good skin, you must do a good job of skin care. Not only should you use cosmetics suitable for your skin type, but you should also pay attention to dietary adjustments, eat more fruits, drink more water, and try not to eat irritating foods. Also keep your mood happy.