Are keratin levels higher in the superficial or deep epidermis?

The keratin levels are higher in the superficial epidermis.

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and is made up of multiple layers of cells. The innermost layer of the epidermis, called the basal layer, is where new skin cells are produced. These cells then migrate towards the surface of the skin, eventually reaching the outermost layer, called the stratum corneum.

The stratum corneum is composed of dead cells that are filled with a protein called keratin. Keratin is a strong, fibrous protein that helps to protect the skin from the environment. The concentration of keratin increases as the cells move from the basal layer to the stratum corneum, so the keratin levels are higher in the superficial epidermis.