Skin cell turnover

Skin cell turnover, also called epidermal turnover or skin regeneration, is a cyclical process by which the epidermis sheds dead, terminally differentiated cells from the stratum corneum and replaces them with new cells generated by basal epidermal stem cells. This tightly regulated process relies on proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of keratinocytes, orchestrated by numerous signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, p53, and growth factors. Proper skin cell turnover maintains the skin’s barrier function, appearance, and resilience; disruptions can lead to disease. While drugs like retinoids and hydroxy acids can modulate turnover for therapeutic or cosmetic effect, skin cell turnover itself is not a molecular drug target but rather the outcome of complex cellular regulation.

Other names

Epidermal turnoverSkin regenerationKeratinocyte turnoverCellular turnoverSkin renewal

Stimulation of keratinocyte proliferation, promotion of differentiation, induction of exfoliation (removal of stratum corneum), and modulation of apoptosis pathways.