1. Bonding
Ceramides bind cells together by ester bonds to proteins on the cell surface. This interrelation is known as a lipid - cell - protein inclusion.
It’s reported that the adhesion between keratinocytes can be determined by measuring ceramide content in the epidermal stratum corneum.
The reduction of ceramide content in the epidermal stratum corneum can reduce the adhesion between keratinocytes, resulting in dry, desquamate, scaly skin.
2. Repair the skin barrier
Dry skin is a condition in which the amount of ceramide in the skin is reduced.
Ceramide can improve dry skin and help repair skin barrier function if given in sufficient quantities in a timely manner.
To protect the skin from external irritation, let the skin from the appearance of water and flawless.
3. Anti-aging
During skin aging, lipid synthesis decreases and ceramide content in the stratum corneum decreases.
The characteristics of skin aging are:
(1) Dry, desquamation, rough and tarnish skin.
(2) The skin stratum corneum becomes thinner, wrinkles increase and elasticity decreases.
The use of ceramide can increase ceramide content in the cuticle stratum corneum, can improve dry skin, desquamate, rough and other conditions;
Ceramide can increase the cuticle thickness, improve the water holding capacity of skin, reduce wrinkles, enhance skin elasticity and delay skin aging.
4. Moisturizing
Skin water content accounts for about 18% ~ 20% of body weight, and skin moisture and elasticity are closely related to the moisture contained in the epidermis.
Excessive loss of skin moisture can lead to dry skin and even chapped skin. Imokawa et al. used organic solvent treatment to remove the stratum corneum lipids.
The skin was found to persist (>4 days) chapped, scaly, skin conductivity decreased significantly.