Excess keratin production plays a significant role in the development of acne. It doesn't directly cause acne, but it's a crucial contributing factor.
How Keratin Contributes to Acne
Keratin is a protein that helps protect the skin. However, an overproduction of keratin (hyperkeratinization) leads to the formation of plugs within hair follicles. These plugs consist of excess keratin and dead skin cells. These plugs, in combination with sebum (oil produced by the sebaceous glands), block the pores, creating a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to inflammation and the characteristic acne lesions.
Several sources confirm this process:
- Acne Support: Their website states that in acne, cells lining the follicle wall produce too much keratin, causing dead skin cells to stick together, forming a blockage. https://www.acnesupport.org.uk/acne-types/
- Acne.org: This site highlights research showing increased keratin in the pore lining, causing the pore walls to stick together and become blocked. https://www.acne.org/the-role-of-hyperkeratinization-in-acne
- Cleveland Clinic: They differentiate between keratin plugs and sebum plugs, both leading to clogged pores, but highlighting the role of keratin in the formation of one type of blockage. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22743-keratin-plugs
- Frontiers for Young Minds: This source lists keratin plugs as one of the best-understood causes of acne. https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2022.787466
- Supernatural Acne Treatment: This resource explicitly states that keratin causes blocked pores and acne. https://supernaturalacnetreatment.com/keratin-and-acne-why-this-protein-is-the-real-cause-of-blocked-pores/
In short, while not the sole cause, excess keratin is a critical factor in the development of acne by contributing to the formation of pore-blocking plugs.
