What Makes Keratin?

Keratin is a “fibrous protein that serves as the main structural molecule” for hair, skin and nails, according to the Internet Encyclopedia of Science. Keratin also makes up the major protein elements of wool, silk, horn, hoofs, tortoise shells and the quills of feathers. Keratin is a naturally occurring protein that is extracted for multiple bio-medical and cosmetic uses.

Keratin Types

Keratin is found in all animal types including, birds, reptiles, shell fish and mammals. Keratins are present in nearly all human body tissue. Soft epithelial keratins keep the skin smooth and waterproof; however, when the skin is rubbed to harshly these keratins build up to create protective callouses. Organ tissue contains cytokeratins that provide the strength to hold the cell walls together. The hard form of keratin is the primary structure for hair.

Hard Keratin

Human hair is constructed of “a fibrous protein called keratin,” according to the Cosmetology department of Houston Community College. The particular type of keratin in hair is known as "hard keratin" because it is an insoluble protein. Keratin is constructed from 18 sulfur containing amino acids, with the most plentiful being cystine.

Boost Keratin Growth

A number of food choices will boost the production of keratin. Soy, eggs, dairy products and nuts are foods rich in the amino acid cystine. When combined with foods rich in sulfur, the development of keratin occurs naturally. The FoodScout identifies sulfur-rich foods as those that “ tend to be warming or spicy, like garlic, radish, onion, mustard or hot peppers.” For a diet lacking in keratin builders, supplements containing the amino acid cystine (also called L-Cystine) paired with MSM, a natural sulfur compound, will enhance keratin development.

Keratin Harvesting

Science and manufacturing processes are able to remove the keratin from wool, silk and other sources for bio-medical testing and various applications. The October 12, 2009, publication “Some Properties of Keratin Biomaterials: Keratins,” a study conducted by P. Hill, H. Brantley and M. Van Dyke of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine describes extracting keratins from human tissue and “processing them into various physical states such as gels, films, coatings and fibers.” The research determined that keratins were a practical source “for medical applications such as wound healing, bone regeneration, hemostasis and peripheral nerve repair.”

Liquid Keratin

Keratin extracted from sheep's wool and silk is often combined with botanicals for the purpose of enhancing the skin and hair. Keratin-based products designed for use on the skin have claims that the product will minimize the signs of aging. Liquid keratin is most widely known for its ability to enhance human hair by repairing damage, straightening and improving its strength. The popular salon treatment called Brazilian Straightening, also known as Keratin Straightening, will last for two to three months. Liquid keratin-based hair products for home treatments offer similar results that last for up to thirty days. Prices for both treatments average about $70 to $100 per month of use.

References

• Houston Community College: Chemical Composition of Hair
• The Internet Encyclopedia of Science: Keratin
• Reference: Cytokeratin
• Diet Fitness Today: Foods High in Cystine
• FoodScout: Sulfur

Resources

• Conditions Diseases: What is Keratin?
• U.S. National Library of Medicine: Some Properties of Karatin Biomaterials - Kerateines
• Eruan Salan and Spa: Brazilian Keratin Treatment – Formaldehyde Free
• Loreal Hair Science: Superb Chemistry
• Journal of Investigative Dermatology: The New Keratin Nomenclature, Rebecca M. Porter 2006