des are such a safe product is that they are produced by the body naturally; any topical application is merely supplementing a lack of ceramides that should already be present in the skin.
It is important to note, however, that the added ingredients in combination creams may cause side effects unrelated to ceramides.
Tips for Using Ceramides in Your Skin Care Routine
Ceramides are available in creams, lotions and cleansers. For optimal moisturization, choose a ceramide cream, as creams are often formulated with other lipids specifically to retain moisture.
Look for products that are fragrance-free, and therefore less likely to cause irritation. The first time you use a cream with ceramides, perform a spot test to determine if you have any reaction, such as redness or irritation.
Apply ceramide cream as the final step in your skin care regimen before bed, or after showering to lock-in moisture. Alternatively, if you are using a ceramide serum, it should be applied as the first step after cleansing to ensure proper absorption.
While you can use multiple ceramide products in a skin care routine, using a formulation containing just one single ceramide has been found to be more effective than a product containing more than one.
Ceramides have emollient properties, which means they are already formulated to moisturize the skin. For particularly dry skin however, consider using ceramide products that include other moisturizing properties such as humectants and occlusives.
Humectants, such as glycerol, increase water content in the uppermost layer of the skin by drawing water from the environment and from deeper layers within the skin. Occlusives, such as lanolin, prevent the skin from losing the water it has already absorbed.
How do you store ceramides?
The best way to store ceramides is in an airtight bottle to protect the cream from the air and possible contaminants. When buying a ceramide product, look for one in an opaque bottle with a pump dispenser to protect the contents from light and air.
How to Prevent Loss of Ceramides
In addition to adding ceramides to your skin, you can also prevent the loss of ceramides by following a few simple steps:
- Keep your skin moisturized; use a humidifier in dry weather and apply moisturizer after bathing
- Use SPF sunscreen daily and avoid excessive tanning or sunbathing; UV rays have been found to damage intercellular lipids, such as ceramides
- Use gentle cleansers and soaps; avoid products that contain alcohol or perfume, which can dry the skin.
Ceramides are lipids that naturally make up a large portion of the skin. These levels decrease with age or due to skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Ceramide creams and other skin care products help replenish the skin’s natural barrier and restore moisture. This not only keeps skin smooth and soft, but also helps to reduce signs of aging. Additionally, ceramides are gentle on skin and can be used as a moisturizer even for those with acne, psoriasis or eczema.
Ceramides are available in a variety of forms including creams, serums and oral supplements.
Ceramide-based products are safe to use with other anti-aging and moisturizing ingredients, but lose efficacy when exposed to air and sunlight.
If you’re not sure which ceramide product is best for your skin care needs, discuss your options with your dermatologist.
- Vender, R.B. (2019). Cohort using a ceramides containing cleanser and cream with salicylic acid for dry, flaking, and scaling skin conditions. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 18(1):80-85. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30681802
- Kendall, A.C. (2017). Lipid functions in skin: Differential effects of n-e polyunsaturated fatty acids on cutaneous ceramides, in a human skin organ culture model. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. 1859(9): 1679-1689. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.03.016
- Spada, F. (2018). Skin hydration is significantly increased by a cream formulated to mimic the skin’s own natural moisturizing systems. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 11:491-497. DOI: 10.2147/CCID.S177697
- Isoda, K. (2015).