Knowledge Base

Keratinocyte

Keratinocytes represent nearly 95% of the cells of human skin and contain  protein keratin (the basic structural component of hair, body hair, and nails) and melanin pigment (its amount determines the colour of your hair, skin, and eyes). In the skin, keratinocytes form 5 different layers of epidermis, where they differ in shape and content. With gradual maturation, these cells change their shape and move towards the surface of the skin, where they die and transform into dead cells (corneocytes).

Corneocytes gradually keratinize, exfoliate, and are replaced by cells from the deeper layers of the skin (keratinisation process). In keratinocytes, keratinization occurs through the aggregation of a cell with keratine content, which forms hair and body hair.