What is Ceramide?
Ceramide is a class of phospholipids with ceramide as the backbone, mainly including ceramide phosphorylcholine and ceramide phosphoethanolamine. Phospholipids are the main component of the cell membrane, and 40% to 50% of the sebum in the stratum corneum is composed of ceramide, which is the main part of the intercellular matrix and plays an important role in maintaining the water balance of the stratum corneum.
As a substance between the stratum corneum cells, ceramide accounts for about 50%. When ceramides and cells are arranged regularly, the stratum corneum is a complete and strong structure, which can lock moisture and protect it from external stimuli, and the appearance will look supple and flawless.
Clinical studies have shown that with age, the content of ceramides in the body decreases, especially in the face and hands. Regular supplementation of ceramide can significantly delay skin aging and maintain youthful vitality.
The main role of ceramide
● Moisturizing Effect
The moisture and elasticity of the skin are closely related to the moisture contained in the epidermis. Excessive loss of skin moisture will lead to dry skin and even chapped skin. After research, it was found that ceramide has a strong ability to associate water molecules, and it maintains skin moisture by forming a network structure in the stratum corneum.
● Anti-allergic Effect
Studies have shown that ceramide plays a leading role in the regulation of skin barrier function. Experiments have proved that the local application of a certain amount of natural and synthetic ceramide can restore the loss of skin barrier function caused by the use of organic solvents and surfactants, so it has a good effect of protecting the skin against allergies. Ceramides can help thicken the stratum corneum, improve the tolerance of the entire skin, prevent the invasion of harmful substances from the outside, avoid the occurrence of allergies, and have the effect of repairing red blood.
● Anti-aging, auxiliary whitening and anti-oxidation
During the aging process of the skin, the lipid synthesis decreases, and the content of ceramide in the stratum corneum decreases. The characteristics of skin aging are: (1) dry skin, desquamation, roughness, and loss of luster; (2) thinning of the cuticle of the skin, increased wrinkles, and decreased elasticity. The use of ceramide can increase the content of ceramide in the stratum corneum of the epidermis, which can improve dryness, desquamation, and roughness of the skin; at the same time, ceramide can increase the thickness of the stratum corneum of the epidermis, improve the skin's water holding capacity, reduce wrinkles, increase skin elasticity, and delay aging. senescence.
