EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CERAMIDES

Well-aging, anti-acne – ceramides have numerous benefits for the skin as an ingredient. But what exactly are ceramides and why are they so important for healthy and firm skin?

What are ceramides and where are they found?

Ceramides have been a hot topic for some time now, and rightfully so. They are among the most important skin lipids (fats); more specifically, they are a subgroup of the so-called sphingolipids, which are part of the skin's own fats. They make up about half of the lipids in the outermost layer of the skin (stratum corneum).

Skin's own ingredient with numerous benefits

Ceramides are essential for a healthy skin barrier, which is why they are formulated into most skincare products from DR. EMI ARPA Skin as a so-called 'Hero Ingredient' – an outstanding ingredient. They possess numerous structural and biological functions in the skin, e.g., they reduce the skin's water loss. In addition, ceramides regulate processes such as cell division and differentiation of keratin-forming cells. (1)

Ceramides as a help for acne

There are different types of ceramides, they are classified based on the length of their bound fatty acid or the sphingoid base structure, for example, Ceramide AP, NP, or EOP. (1) Especially for people with acne, ceramides can be particularly interesting, because a study found that the facial skin of patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris contained a significantly lower percentage of ceramides and sphingosines, while the transepidermal water loss was significantly increased compared to healthy control subjects.1In vitro studies also showed that phytosphingosine inhibits the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Cutibacterium acnes, and subsequent in vivo studies confirmed the antimicrobial properties through a significant reduction in the total number of germs on unwashed hands. (2)

By the way, ceramides can be combined with all other ingredients and there are no restrictions on the frequency of use. A must-have for the skin barrier and a building block of your optimal basic skincare routine for every skin type!


SOURCES

(1) Yamamoto, A.,Takenouchi, K.,& Ito, M. (1995). Impaired water barrier function in acne vulgaris. Archives of dermatological research, 287(2), 214–218.

(2) Borodzicz, S.,Rudnicka, L.,Mirowska-Guzel, D. et al. The role of epidermal sphingolipids in dermatologic diseases. Lipids Health Dis 15, 13 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-016-0178-7