What Are the Effects of Ceramide?

Ceramide, is a type of phospholipid with ceramide as the backbone. Phospholipids are the main component of cell membranes, and 40%-50% of the sebum in the epidermal stratum corneum is composed of ceramides. At the same time, ceramide is the most important and the highest proportion of the lipids between the stratum corneum cells of the skin, and it has a strong ability to associate Water molecules.

Ceramide itself exists in the skin. As a typical natural lipid, the structure and polarity of ceramide are very similar to skin stratum corneum and hair fibers. It is easily absorbed by the skin and hair and can promote the penetration of other nutrients. Ceramide is often used in conditioning cosmetics with linolenic acid, Hyaluronic Acid and vitamins. It is suitable for impaired skin barrier functions such as rough skin, dryness and dandruff.

"Amino group (sphingosine) and carboxyl group (fatty acid) are connected by an amide bond to form a ceramide, in which the carbon chain length, saturation, and number of hydroxyl groups of sphingosine and fatty acid can vary. Therefore, there are many kinds of ceramides, which can be subdivided up to several hundred. At present, there are 12 kinds of ceramides detected in the stratum corneum of human skin. The specific effects of ceramide on the skin include reducing water loss, repairing the skin barrier, anti-oxidant and anti-aging, etc.

Reduce water loss

Ceramide has a large number of hydrophilic groups, has a very strong water affinity, and is a very efficient moisturizer. The most basic role of ceramide is to prevent the loss of water and Electrolytes. As the age grows, the ceramide in the skin is lost, and the skin tends to become dry. Studies have shown that even if only a single component of ceramide is supplemented, it can effectively reduce the loss of epidermal water.

Repair skin barrier

The skin barrier was once vividly compared to the "brick-mortar model", in which keratinocytes are "bricks" and intercellular lipids are "mud". And ceramide is an important material of "mud".

Ceramide locks water and forms covalent bonds with the protein on the surface of keratinocytes to bind the cells tightly. The internal water content and nutrients are lost, and the external protection against the attack of bacteria and microorganisms is essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. important. At the same time, ceramide connects the lipid matrix and keratinocytes, enhances the barrier function of the skin, reduces the entry of harmful substances into the skin through pores and sweat glands, and has anti-allergic effects.

Anti-oxidant and anti-aging

The sphingosine carbon chain in ceramide has a double bond and a terminal hydroxyl group, indicating that it is easy to oxidize and break the double bond, so ceramide has an antioxidant effect. Studies have shown that low concentrations of ceramide can stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts and inhibit the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, so ceramide has a certain anti-aging effect.

Ceramide is often compounded with other functional ingredients to achieve a complex effect, such as moisturizing ingredients (hyaluronic acid, dextran), anti-inflammatory (bisabolol, portulaca extract), anti-aging ingredients (polypeptides), Whitening ingredients (niacinamide, vitamin C), etc.

As a matter of fact, the best skin care products are the oils naturally produced by the skin. The skin care products that people use are imitating this layer of physiological oils. Although ceramide products can repair damaged skin barriers, a healthy lifestyle is the greatest guarantee for healthy skin.