Ceramides, the New Skincare Craze
Caring for your skin during the winter months can be tricky. In the colder months ahead your body may opt to drink less water, causing your skin to feel dry, and blotchy. One ingredient you can add your skincare routine this winter are Ceramides. Many of the skincare brands on the market, recently, have been advertising including ceramides as one of the main ingredients of their products. We know that they are supposed to be good for your skin and that we should try to incorporate them into our routines, but what exactly are ceramides, and why are they good for you?
What are Ceramides?
A ceramide is a healthy fat, or lipid, that is naturally occurring in skin cells. It is most concentrated in the upper layers of the skin and make up 50% of our skin’s composition. Ceramides make up our protective moisture barrier that seals in natural moisture of the skin and protects the skin from environmental irritants and other stressors. This includes, but is not limited to sun exposure (and therefore, damage), dust, and overuse of chemical serums or exfoliants. Over time, our skin’s naturally occurring ceramides can deplete due to naturally causes. This gradual depletion can lead to wrinkles, rough skin, dryness, and higher susceptibility to developing adult acne. This makes incorporating ceramides into your skin routine imperative, especially if you are aging out of your teenage years!
The Benefits of Using Ceramides
Ceramides has been proven to benefit the skin in several ways while restoring and maintaining the skin’s natural moisture barrier:
- Hydration
- Combats against aging skin (wrinkles and roughness)
- Protects the skin against sun damage and alleviates any sun damage previously caused
Ceramides in skin care have come a very long way! You can find them remotely in any skincare product on the market, these days. Toners, cleansers, serums, moisturizers, essences, the list goes on! They have become extremely accessible. It is also fairly inexpensive to find effective products that contain ceramides. While you can choose to splurge on a product, it is also very easy and possible to find effective drug store products. Dermatologists recommend checking out Cerave, La Roche Posay, and Paula’s Choice, just to name a few.
Adding Ceramides to Your Skincare Routine
Overall, ceramides are universal. They are not meant to target a specific skin concern or meant for only a certain age group. You can start using them at any time, any degree. They can combat existing skin concerns but are also essential in promoting prevention of any skin concerns that can arise. There is no such thing as “too many ceramides”. In fact, it is recommended for people who are looking into repairing their skin barrier to have ceramides present in every product in their skin care routines. They definitely serve more help than harm and can bring you one step closer to achieving your skin goals! I hope that you feel encouraged to try something new!
It’s Fetch is a community that provides a safe space for members to discuss health and wellness topics. We provide access to archived health related content, note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content shared, regardless of date should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
-Written by Kaila Ann
Resources:
https://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/skincare-advice/ingredient-spotlight/what-are-ceramides-how-do-they-work-in-skincare.html
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12553851/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24656726/
Comments +