WHAT IS KERATIN?
Learn about the vital protein that helps hold your body together
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
Did you know?
Hair keratin loses pigment with age, turning white
Keratin is a protein that adds strength to many
of your body’s hard and soft external tissues. It is
predominantly found in the hair, nails and outer layer of skin, but is also in many other glands and organs. The molecule is much tougher than others in the body, being more resistant to tearing and scratching. Keratin is also waterproof and isn’t dissolved by acids, alkalis or most of the body’s natural chemicals.
Your body produces keratin itself, but relies on you consuming enough protein as part of your diet. If you aren’t eating enough, your body struggles to make an adequate supply of keratin and you might experience brittle nails, thinning hair and dry or flaking skin. Keratin keeps your many millions of skin cells connected and working together as the largest organ in the body. To achieve this, the proteins form long strands inside the cells, which anchor to each other to form a strong skin shield.