Keratin layer of epidermis (none)

The keratin layer of the epidermis, most specifically the stratum corneum, is the outermost barrier protecting the body from dehydration, infection, toxins, and physical injury[1][3][4]. It consists mainly of keratinocytes filled with keratin, a tough, fibrous protein that imparts water resistance and durability[1][2][3][5][7]. Keratinocytes originate in the basal epidermal layer, mature as they rise, and eventually die, leaving behind their keratin-rich remnants in the stratum corneum[1][3][5][6]. While not a single molecular target, this layer is a functional target in dermatology (e.g., drug delivery, barrier repair, diseases of hyperkeratosis)[3][8]. In drug development or clinical testing, the keratin layer is referenced primarily as a barrier, not as a molecular receptor, making the query technically incorrect for most therapeutic target databases.

Other names

keratinized layerstratum corneumhorny layer

Restore/maintain barrier integrity - Promote cell turnover (keratolytics) - Reduce inflammation (corticosteroids, immunomodulators) - Modulate keratinocyte differentiation (retinoids)