Keratin is a crucial protein that your body constantly produces; keratin is essential for the function and maintenance of the skin, hair, and nails. Neglecting keratin can lead to several skin/hair issues, so it’s important to properly understand the role of keratin and how you can manage it.
What is keratin?
Keratin is a protein, meaning that it’s composed of a chain of amino acids. Keratin can be categorized as either hard or soft keratin. There are over 50 types of keratin, hard keratin and soft keratin are just to name a few. Hard keratin tends to be sturdier and less elastic, which can be found on the hair and nails. Soft keratin is more elastic, which is found on the skin, preventing the skin from sagging (the skin loses elasticity with age). Keratin is an essential protein in the structure of the skin, hair, and nails, but how exactly does it support them?
Keratin in the skin
The skin consists of three layers: hypodermis, dermis, and epidermis. The epidermis is the top layer of the skin, responsible for forming a protective barrier, protecting the skin from pollutants and irritants. The function of the epidermis is accredited to soft keratin, which is created by keratinocytes in the stratum basale – the deepest layer of the epidermis.
Keratin in the hair
Similarly to the skin, the scalp has a dermis and epidermis, with the dermis containing hair follicles. Hair follicles store keratinocytes, which distribute hard keratin from the hair follicle to the hair shaft – the hair that extends beyond the scalp. The hair shaft is almost entirely composed of keratin, which provides the hair with protection, strength, elasticity, etc.
Keratin hair treatments
Although keratin is constantly produced by hair follicles, keratin production decreases with age. Not only do keratinocytes experience lowered cell turnover, but keratin on the surface of the hair starts to break down in response to UV rays from the sun. For this reason, keratin treatments are offered by hair stylists, which is a process that takes a couple of hours. Keratin treatments are enriched with artificial keratin protein to straighten hair and reduce frizz.
Keratin in nails
Similarly to the hair, nails are primarily composed of hard keratin. Keratin is being constantly produced by the matrix of the nail, which gets pushed out to grow the nail and provide its protective surface.
(https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24734-nail-matrix)
As we’ve established, keratin is an essential protein in the structure of the skin, hair, and nails, providing protection and strength. Unfortunately, as we age, keratinocytes produce less keratin, and keratin breaks down/gets damaged. However, you can combat this with a proper diet and lifestyle habits.
Boosting keratin production with diet:
In order for a nutrient to boost keratin production, it has to be associated with protein synthesis. Biotin is a B vitamin that has been shown to boost the metabolism of amino acids, and thus keratin synthesis. Protein and vitamin A have also been shown to stimulate protein synthesis. Incorporating foods rich in nutrients like biotin, protein, and vitamin A can boost keratin production in the body.
As we’ve learned, keratin serves the common purpose of protection and elasticity in the skin, hair, and nails. Although keratin is naturally produced by the body, keratin levels decline over time. For this reason, you can modify your diet to boost keratin synthesis in the body, or maybe consider a keratin treatment to replenish keratin in the hair.
Bibliography
https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/keratin