Keratinocytes
Keratinocytes — the predominant cell type of the epidermis, responsible for producing keratin, the protein that gives skin its strength and protective barrier. They form in the deepest epidermal layer and gradually move upward, flattening and dying to become the corneocytes of the surface. This continuous journey drives skin renewal and barrier maintenance.
Key points
- Keratinocytes make up roughly 90 percent of the cells in the epidermis.
- They produce keratin, a tough structural protein essential to the skin's barrier function.
- As keratinocytes migrate from the basal layer to the surface, they differentiate and eventually form flattened dead corneocytes.
- This upward migration and shedding, known as desquamation, underpins the skin's natural renewal cycle.
Frequently asked
What do keratinocytes do?
Keratinocytes produce keratin and form the bulk of the epidermis, building and maintaining the skin's protective barrier as they migrate toward the surface.
Where are keratinocytes formed?
They originate in the stratum basale, the deepest layer of the epidermis, and gradually move upward as they mature.
Related topics
This is a foundational entry in the SYNC Skin Encyclopedia and is expanded over time. Educational information only — not medical advice.
