Ceramides nourish skin from within and preserve youthful skin. As children and young adults, our bodies manufacture plenty of ceramide molecules to keep our skin healthy, supple, and strong. Ceramides are a major component of our skin’s surface. They protect our skin against moisture loss and support the skin’s matrix. This yields skin that is youthful and supple. The support provided by ceramides keeps skin firm. However, as we age ceramides decline and skin begins to sag and wrinkle.
What is a ceramide? It is a type of lipid found in the cell membrane of cells. The richest concentration of ceramides are found in the epidermis. The epidermis is the outer most layer of the skin that we see every day. Ceramides play an important role. They prevent loss of water through the skin that could lead to dryness and act as a barrier against bacteria and environmental pollutants. Ceramides work in conjunction with lipids like cholesterol, fatty acids, and squalene to provide a critical layer of protection for healthy skin.
There are a few causes for the loss of ceramides as we age: Harsh cleansers disrupt and strip ceramides and lipids. Medications alter ceramide and lipid levels in the epidermis. Diet that lacks essential fatty acids disrupts the levels of ceramides and lipids. Environment and UV rays also contribute to the loss of these essential lipids. Dryness, flakiness, irritation, sensitivity, and redness are side effects of ceramide depletion.
In addition, ceramides are being used to help ease skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Clinical studies have shown that people with such skin conditions naturally produce fewer ceramides in the epidermis compared to people with normal skin. Using products with ceramides is proven to provide considerable relief for these conditions.
We highly suggest First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream that incorporates ceramides with shea butter and colloidal oatmeal to produce an amazing calming, smoothing, hydrating cream that reduce symptoms of eczema, dermatitis, and keratosis pilaris. Free of parabens, harsh chemicals and colorants, this cream really allows relief for those suffering from any sensitivities.
You can find this product on SkinStore.com.
Hot Ingredient: Ceramides
