WHAT IS THE KERATIN TURNOVER?  

It is the differential process of the keratinocytes in epidermis. Keratinocytes are produced from adult stem cells in the basal layer, and they reach the stratum corneum by passing the epidermis and granular layer while going through cell division and the differentiation processes for about 14 days. Then, it takes another 14 days for keratinocytes to be eliminated from the stratum corneum. Thus, it takes a total of 28 days for cell proliferation, differentiation and elimination.

The process of old cells being replaced with new healthy cells for 28 days is called the keratinization of the skin, which is the keratin turnover.

WHY IS KERATIN TURNOVER IMPORTANT? 

It is important to form and maintain a firm skin barrier to maintain healthy skin.

Found in the stratum corneum of the epidermis, the ‘skin barrier’ is literally a barrier that protects our skin by preventing the loss of moisture and electrolytes which are necessary for our body. While at the same time, it blocks various kinds of harmful substances including pathogens to penetrate the skin.

Skin turnover is essential because it is closely related to the formation of the skin barrier and natural moisturizing factors.

HOW SHOULD WE MANAGE THE KERATIN TURNOVER CYCLE? 

First, remove the old dead skin cells

In the stratum corneum of the skin, new keratinocytes proliferate and differentiate, and the enzyme breaks down the differentiated dead skin cells to induce exfoliation.

If the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes occur slowly, the activation of the breakdown enzyme is lowered which leads to the accumulation of old dead skin cells in the stratum corneum because they don’t get eliminated. The old dead skin cells interrupt the absorption of moisture and cosmetic products which results in unclear and dull skin. So, the first important step of the keratin turnover cycle care would be the exfoliation of old dead skin cells.

The most important part of the dead skin cell removal is to perform natural and soft exfoliation. Exfoliation with strong irritation would remove not only old dead skin cells but also new keratinocytes in the stratum corneum, thus damaging the epidermis to accelerate moisture loss and skin aging.

Second, apply a skin moisturizer

After removing the dead skin cells, it is extremely important to moisturize your skin. If our skin lacks moisture, a variety of skin aging symptoms are quickly processed, so skin moisturization is a must.

Lastly, anti-aging care

Once you’re done with moisturizing your skin, it is time to carry out anti-aging care for skin regeneration so that the keratin turnover cycle can be restored to a normal condition. Use products made with functional ingredients that can accelerate skin cell differentiation and proliferation or promotes the synthesis of collagen and elastin to normalize keratinocytes and take care of the keratin turnover cycle.