Increased epidermal turnover

Increased epidermal turnover refers to a process in which cells in the epidermis proliferate, migrate, differentiate, and are shed at an accelerated rate. Normally, keratinocytes originate from stem cells in the basal layer and travel through the epidermal layers, becoming corneocytes that are eventually sloughed off at the skin surface[2][3][4][8]. The whole process takes 28–40 days in healthy adults but can be accelerated in certain conditions, notably psoriasis, where cell proliferation is greatly increased and cells are shed prematurely before full keratinization[1][5][6][7][8]. Epidermal turnover is regulated by multiple signaling pathways including EGF, FGF, Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog, BMP/TGFβ, and integrins[1]. Increasing turnover can be therapeutically beneficial for some skin conditions, but excessive or uncontrolled acceleration can impair barrier function and cause or worsen dermatitis, inflammation, or infection[1][4][8].

Other names

Epidermal cell turnoverSkin cell turnoverEpidermal renewalSkin regenerationCellular turnoverDesquamation

Induction of keratinocyte proliferation Acceleration of differentiation and upward migration Enhanced desquamation (shedding) of corneocytes Modulation of cellular signals such as EGF, FGF, Wnt, Notch, BMP/TGFβ, integrins