Ceramides
Ceramides – The Ties That Bind
Skin is made up of three layers. They are the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis is the topmost layer and is the barrier to prevent environmental invasions of toxins and bacteria. The top skin layer, also called the stratum corneum, is made up of layers of ceramides, free fatty acids and cholesterol. These layers retain water to keep the skin moist. Ceramides form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. The result is the skin’s ability to move moisture into the skin. To put it simply, ceramides make it possible for your skin to retain moisture and not dry out. Ceramides make up most of the skin layer that creates the skin’s smooth look.
Untied
As we age, ceramides don’t become untied, but they do diminish. This means that older skin becomes drier, because the water retaining ceramides are not as effective. Also, as we age, skin cells do not reproduce as well as when younger. This also affects the ability of the skin to retain water. Skin care products enhanced with synthetically reproduced ceramides help bolster the skins structure. They ‘retie’ the binds by replacing the lipids, or natural skin barrier.
Healthy skin normally has 10% to 20% water content. When it falls below 10% is when the skin looks and feels dry. The water content is directly dependent on the condition of the lipid layer in the skin. The diminishment of ceramides in the lipid layer has the most dramatic effect on the skin’s ability to act as a barrier. To rebuild the layer takes several weeks. Ceramides in beauty products can help maintain healthy skin.
It is important to note that diet affects skin also. The diminishing ceramides are a result of the aging process, but the use of enhanced cosmetics should be coupled with proper nutrition.
Building the Dam
You can think of ceramides as forming a dam that keeps moisture locked within the skin. Ceramides are used in a number of products.
As we age, the skin becomes thinner and thinner. The skin barrier begins to release moisture instead of retaining water. The number of ceramides declines steadily over the years. Skin cells division slows also which means it is unable to rejuvenate as quickly as it could when younger. This is aggravated by the increased loss of moisture.
Ceramides can play an important role in rejuvenating skin. Water is a huge part of our total makeup. Maintaining the ability to retain moisture can make the difference between skin that looks young and skin that is abnormally dry. So when looking for an effective moisturizer, make sure you purchase one that includes ceramides.