Plays an important role in the regulation of embryonic development, cell proliferation and cell differentiation. Required for normal branching morphogenesis. Growth factor active on keratinocytes. Possible major paracrine effector of normal epithelial cell proliferation. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:16597617, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8663044}. This is the function of FGF7 (fibroblast growth factor 7, ENSG00000140285).