Ceramides are a type of lipid made of sphingosine and a fatty acid. These are the lipids between the cells of the top layer of the epidermis.
Ceramides play a role in brain and nervous system development but are also important in maintaining healthy skin. They create a barrier that helps prevent moisture loss — keeping skin hydrated, plump, and supple. The barrier also protects the skin from harmful irritants, bacteria, and other environmental toxins.
If you are considering using a ceramides skin care product, you should first understand what types of skin care issues they treat so that you can choose one that is the most effective. For example, many studies have shown that people who suffer from eczema, which causes redness, peeling, and flaking of the skin, and those who suffer from psoriasis, which presents with dry, itchy, thick scales on the skin, have a significant reduction of ceramides in their skin.
Restores the skin’s natural barrier
A reduction in the naturally produced number of ceramides may impact the functioning of the skin’s natural barrier and its ability to protect the skin and keep the skin hydrated. Using ceramide products may help to support the health of the skin’s natural barrier, improving moisture, resilience and preventing flakiness.
Moisture
Ceramides help to support the skin barrier’s health. When the skin has a healthy skin barrier it helps to keep the skin hydrated and prevent water loss.
Why do you need beauty products that contain ceramides?
Age and sun damage reduce the effectiveness of your skin’s natural ceramides and can eventually deplete them, which weakens your skin’s barrier. The results are drier, rougher skin, wrinkles, irritation, redness, and visible signs of dehydration. As your ceramide levels naturally decrease, you can replenish them with topical skincare products.
Rejuvenates aging skin
As people age, their skin changes as it loses structural proteins, such as collagen, elastin, and keratin. This, and the other processes involved in the degradation of the skin barrier, leads to thinner skin and visible signs of aging such as wrinkles, lines, and sagging.
Ceramides have trusted source water-retaining properties that prevent moisture loss from the skin. Hydrated skin can help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, which are often more visible when the skin is dry.