Epidermis-specific type I keratin involved in wound healing (PubMed:10866680). Involved in the activation of follicular keratinocytes after wounding, while it does not play a major role in keratinocyte proliferation or migration (PubMed:10866680). Participates in the regulation of epithelial migration by inhibiting the activity of SRC during wound repair (PubMed:22529101). Heterodimer of a type I and a type II keratin. KRT6 isomers associate with KRT16 and/or KRT17 (PubMed:8636216). Interacts with TCHP (By similarity). Predominates in the adult trunk skin, tongue, trachea/esophagus and eye. In adult skin, localization is restricted to hair follicles, where it is localized predominantly in the outer root sheath. With the exception of specific body sites, expression is induced under conditions of epithelial hyperproliferation such as wound healing, certain skin diseases, cancer, and by treatment of the skin with the phorbol ester PMA. Upon wounding, induced in the outer root sheath and the interfollicular epidermis including the basal cell layer (PubMed:10866680). Wound healing defects. Delay in reepithelialization from the hair follicle while the healing of full-thickness skin wounds is not impaired. There are two types of cytoskeletal and microfibrillar keratin, I (acidic) and II (neutral to basic) (40-55 and 56-70 kDa, respectively). Belongs to the intermediate filament family.