In today’s episode we are travelling alongside a daughter keratinocyte in her journey from the mother cells in the stratum basale layer all the way up through the epidermis to our skin’s surface, the cells we see when we look in the mirror.
This journey is perfectly orchestrated, complex and dependent on several reactions taking place to ensure our skin serves up a sophisticated barrier that protects us in our environment.
At the very heart of the journey is a transformation – where our living keratinocytes originating in the stratum basale, fully differentiate into their anucleate corneocyte versions, equipped with strong protein that forms part of our protective barrier.
As this journey takes place, the keratinocyte travels through the strata of the epidermis, through a gradient of pH, that is, different zones of acidity and is subject to influencing factors that clock on and clock off to support the transformation of these evolving cells.
This episode will highlight the stages of skin cell lifecycle, from proliferation, early differentiation, terminal differentiation, cornification and eventually, desquamation.
We'll highlight a handful of skin conditions linked to a dysfunctional journey and explore some prudent measures to consider when designing a topical skin care routine that supports this key process of skin regeneration and barrier health :-)
