Seeing ceramides on all skincare labels? Your skin needs them for these reasons

From moisturizers to serums, you must be seeing ceramides everywhere on your skincare bottles. But why? To know the answer to this, you’re at the right place. These naturally existing molecules are a part of the skin’s barrier layer. Now, you must be intrigued to know their purpose. In layman terms, ceramide is the glue that holds your skin cells together. In addition, they also protect your skin from exposure to environmental aggressors like pollution and dry air.

To answer your queries regarding this skin rejuvenating ingredient, we at HealthShots, spoke to Dr Nivedita Dadu, a renowned dermatologist.

“Ceramide is one of the ingredients that has been around for quite some time, but recently came into the skincare trend. These are long-chain fatty acids which make the fat molecules. These skin molecules constitute a great deal of the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of skin. More than 50 percent of our skin is made up of ceramides, and that makes them integral to the formation of healthy skin,” says Dr Dadu, founder and Chairman of Dr. Nivedita Dadu’s Dermatology Clinic.

Are you scratching your head thinking why do you need them when you’re naturally blessed with ceramides in your skin? The reason is with time your skin loses the ceramide quantity.

Here are a few reason that contribute to ceramide loss in your skin:

1. Age

Just like other skin molecules, the volume of the ceramides in your skin keeps subtracting as you age. Specifically, as you hit your 20s, the body produces fewer ceramides than before and it goes down with time.

2. Season

Ceramide levels may also decrease with a drop in temperature. Cold winter season and the nip in the air may fasten the depletion of ceramides too.

3. Chemicals

Using skincare products and exfoliants laden with chemicals can disrupt your skin’s pH. This may further progress into ceramide reduction in your skin.

4. Fragrance

Skincare products that have artificial scents and fragrances in it can also lead to ceramide loss in your skin

But the good news is that you can replenish the ceramide levels in your skin by using the right skincare and eating a good diet. But, what makes them a highly sought-after ingredient in the skincare range? Dr Dadu briefly explains what ceramides do for your skin.

Here are some beauty benefits of ceramide:

1. Moisturizes your skin

They help to lock moisture within the skin as well as protect it from environmental damage. It helps the skin to become more moisturized and dewy. This as well, reduces the appearance of wrinkles over time.

2. Improves the skin barrier

Ceramides improve the skin barrier function and help to maintain the lipid barrier of the skin. By protecting the skin barrier, they reduce the signs of aging and keep the skin looking radiant, youthful, and glowing.

3. Protects your skin

Ceramides help to protect the skin against all the environmental factors such as dirt, pollution and oxidative stress. It acts as a protector to keep these pesky problems away from the skin, while keeping the skin’s natural moisture locked in.

4. Curbs acne problem

It helps to replenish ceramides into the skin and restores a barrier that prevents bacteria from entering the skin. No bacteria means no acne. So if your skin’s been stripped of ceramides, make sure to rejuvenate it already.

5. Provides anti-inflammatory properties

It helps with inflammatory skin conditions. When the skin’s stratum corneum is not working properly, then the skin can get dehydrated and lead to transient epidermal water loss. This makes the skin dry, inflamed, and at risk for inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, acne, and psoriasis.

6. Prevents skin ageing

Increased hydration and a better skin barrier mean plumper, smoother, firmer skin with visibly fewer lines and wrinkles and no dehydration. Ceramides restores the lost fats in the skin and improves the overall look and feel.

From being anti-ageing saviours to protecting the skin from pollution damage and ensuring moisture retention, the ingredient is a saviour for all skin types, especially dry skin. Since, you know ceramides are a crowd-pleaser, it’s high time you indulge in skincare rich with their goodness.