Keratin is an insoluble protein found in epidermal tissues, such as skin, nails and hair, and it is keratin that helps provide strength, structure and elasticity to protect against damage and trauma. For that reason, keratin has been shown to have a positive role for both beauty and health. It is important for many reasons. Keratin helps boost your radiance, as we all know how much skin, hair and nails can affect how we look. In fact, keratin also has health benefits, and has also been shown to be an important part of wound healing, among other things.

A keratin supplement is intended to strengthen your hair, keep your skin healthy and strengthen your nails. There are many types of hair and nail supplements on the market today, and keratin is definitely a supplement worth implementing into your daily diet.

How does keratin work?

While keratin is found in internal organs and has a role in cell movement, it is primarily associated with hair, skin and nails:

• HAIR: Keratin is what makes up your hair. Since it is the foundation of the hair, you will often find products like keratin hair treatment and keratin shampoo/conditioner. Why do we need to boost our keratin? As we age, we experience a decrease in the production of keratin. Chemically speaking, this weakening leads to a deterioration of the stability and flexibility of the hair. This in turn makes your hair susceptible to dryness and split ends, especially when using brushes or styling products.

• NAILS: Losing keratin (a natural part of aging) can cause nails to become brittle, discolored (yellow, gray or dull), and can lead to splitting or cracking. In addition, you can lose keratin for other reasons, such as changes in the circulatory system (which means that nutrients may not reach the nails, exposure to chemicals and cosmetics, and from a lot of washing and drying of the hands.

• SKIN: Your skin is your biological raincoat...and the reason your skin is waterproof? The answer is keratin. The strong and flexible fibers make your skin strong against wear and penetration and it's what also makes your skin supple and flexible (this is because it also helps you retain the water you need to give your skin that healthy look). As part of the normal aging process, keratin production decreases, which can result in dry and dull skin, as well as causing itching and irritation.

Is keratin good for skin wound healing?

In addition to giving hair, nails and skin strength and structure, keratin can also act as an aid in wound healing. It has been shown to help heal superficial incision wounds, surgical wounds, leg wounds, diabetic wounds, first and second degree burns, and skin grafting. It does this by helping to stimulate cell growth and bring healthy cells to the affected area.

One animal study showed that bandages with keratin accelerated healing and had a better result on scars, and another study showed that keratin helped the wound to have a "better organized structure of regenerated tissue".

How does it work? Keratin dressings release peptides (which are protein chains) into the wound. These activate skin cells in the wound bed that form the epidermis and produce keratin; which then stimulates them to proliferate and heal the wound with regenerated tissue by stimulating fibroblasts, which produce collagen and elastin - two components that make up skin.

A survey of healthcare professionals found that 66 percent of 300 dermatologists recommended nutritional supplements to patients for skin, hair and nail health. 79 percent of them personally used dietary supplements.

Cynatine® HNS is extracted from the wool of sheep living in New Zealand and is an ingredient in dietary supplements and beauty products containing soluble keratin in a highly bioavailable peptide form. Cynatine® HNS's high bioavailability allows it to deliver keratin to our hair, skin and nails. A look at the keratin intake before and after gives you an insight into how it can work.

In one study, dermatologists gave 500 mg of keratin supplements daily, containing Cynatine® HNS, to 50 women. These women were tested for measured hair loss, hair growth, hair strength, hair shine and amino acid composition, as well as nail strength and the appearance of the nail, compared to a placebo group.

The results showed:

17 percent improvement in hair strength after 30 days

39 percent improvement in hair strength after 60 days

47 percent improvement in hair strength after 90 days

80 percent had an improvement in nail strength, smoothness and whiteness after 90 days

Another study showed improvement in skin moisture, smoothness and elasticity after 90 days of keratin intake, and they showed an 11 percent reduction in the depth of wrinkles after 90 days.

Dietary supplement for hair, skin and nails with keratin

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT WITH COLLAGEN

FOOD RICH IN OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

Consume oily fish several times a week. Mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines, tuna and trout are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help the body produce keratin.

FOOD RICH IN VITAMIN D

The production of keratin is also controlled by vitamin D. It regulates the development and growth of keratinocytes. It also regulates the transition of keratinocytes to corneocytes, which are the keratin-rich, dead cells found on the skin's surface. Vitamin D along with corticosteroids also helps in the treatment of psoriasis, a skin disease that has an overproduction of keratin. Vitamin D is provided by eating tuna, salmon, milk, mushrooms, eggs and oatmeal. You can also counteract a lack of vitamin D by moderately exposing yourself to the sun.

FOOD RICH IN BIOTIN (VITAMIN B7 )

Biotin is required for the metabolism of amino acids that produce keratin. Biotin is usually recommended for nails and hair. Foods rich in biotin are beans, nuts, cauliflower, mushrooms and whole grains. It is also found in boiled egg yolks. However, raw egg whites contain a protein that inhibits the absorption of biotin. Because biotin is soluble in water, it cannot be stored in the body. In addition, it can be lost from the food during cooking, where the food has direct contact with water, such as boiling.

FOOD RICH IN VITAMIN A

Synthesis of keratin requires vitamin A. Vitamin A is found in foods such as orange vegetables and fruits such as sweet potatoes, pumpkin, raw carrots, and cantaloupe. Cooked vegetables such as kale and spinach are also rich sources of vitamin A. This vitamin is fat soluble; hence absorption occurs only when eaten with fatty foods. This also means that an excessive intake of vitamin A is stored in the body.

FOOD RICH IN ZINC

Consume foods rich in zinc, including crab, oysters, turkey, pork tenderloin, chicken, veal, chickpeas, and peanut butter. Zinc facilitates tissue and hair growth and helps repair and maintain the glands that surround the hair follicles.

FOOD RICH IN B VITAMINS

Increase your consumption of B vitamins. They improve the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles, growing hair and scalp. Foods rich in vitamins B12 and B6 are trout, wild salmon, shellfish, bananas, lentils, potatoes with skins, vitamin-enriched grains (whole grains), beans, chicken breast, pork tenderloin and lean beef. Foods rich in folate are spinach, oatmeal, vitamin-enriched grains (whole grains), beets, broccoli, and soybeans.