The Vital Importance of Skin Barrier Function
It’s a scientifically proven fact that all skin types must preserve their skin barrier function which is essential for skin health. In case you need some further explanation, (i.e. you aren’t a skincare junkie) the skin barrier is a protective layer that both prevents harmful bacteria from entering the skin while retaining moisture inside the skin to keep it healthy.
Understanding Ceramides For Skin Health
Ceramides are naturally occurring key lipid molecules present in roughly 50% of the skin barrier structure. The long and short of it is that they surround dead skin cells (corneocytes) and help form a strong barrier. These lipids help protect the skin from infection and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Topical Ceramides: Ceramides Infused Moisturizers, Serums & Creams
The thing is, as you age the number of ceramides in your skin naturally decreases. This is why it’s super important to top them up through topical skincare products, such as moisturisers, serums & creams.
By adding this ingredient to your skincare routine you’re essentially taking a holistic approach to skincare.
Although ceramides are mainly lauded for their moisturising abilities, they also help to reduce wrinkles and retain moisture in the skin.
Ceramides Supplements For Skin Health
Given that ceramides are an essential part of our biological makeup, it stands to reason that you can find them in food products such as eggs and corn; however it never hurts to supplement those natural sources with some all-important skin care products.
Think of it like taking a vitamin - sure you probably get your daily intake from the food that you're consuming, but taking a couple of pills a day will just ensure the healthy functioning of your body.
Ceramides for Eczema & Rosacea
This is especially true if you suffer from a skin condition, such as eczema or rosacea. Research has shown that those with dry or inflamed skin tend to have a lack of ceramides in their body.
If something as simple as putting on ceramides infused moisturiser or cream right before you sleep can help solve and/or lessen the effects of these problems, it would be a missed opportunity not to, at the very least, try it.
Effective Combination with Ceramides Moisturizers
You might have noticed that moisturisers have been mentioned an awful lot and there’s a reason for that. While ceramides can be found in a number of skincare products including serums, lotions & creams, generally speaking it works best with moisturizers since it can act on the skin straight away and have time to be absorbed.
Ceramides' Skin Care Unique Role
There’s also an interesting observation to be made in the fact that ceramides can’t be compared to any other skincare ingredient. This is because there is no real alternative to something this integral to the health of your skin.
Synthetic Ceramides for Skin Care Optimal Results
Without the correct amount of this specific ingredient, as proven through the symptoms of conditions such as eczema, the very structure of your skin is compromised.
That is why, although ceramides found within skincare products are synthetic, they are created to be pretty much identical to the real stuff since this will provide the best results.
The Bottom Line on Ceramides Skin Care Products
Overall, this ingredient is, for all intents and purposes, one of skincare’s many versions of supplementation. Rather than adding something that’s going to work separately from the multiple, complex biological processes that occur in the skin you’re simply adding something to help that process go more smoothly. No harm, no foul.
