Researchers have shown for the first time that hemoglobin is also present in the epidermis, and they say their work provides new insights into the properties of skin’s protective external layer. The study was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

The research was driven by a curiosity about how the epidermis protects the body from the environment and what unexpected molecules are expressed in the epidermis. Researchers discovered the hemoglobin α protein in keratinocytes of the epidermis and in hair follicles. This unexpected evidence adds a new facet to the understanding of the workings of our skin’s defense mechanisms, say the authors.

The lead investigator of the study is Masayuki Amagai, MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, and Laboratory for Skin Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama.

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