The most common skin complaint is a depleted and damaged skin barrier and there is a whole host of reasons why that happens and most common reason is the use of too many skincare ingredients at a time of year where our skin isn't well adapted to being challenged by potential irritants.
Let's talk about the most important ingredient to help you cope with this situation,Ceramides are the ingredients that are there for you repair the damaged skin barrier.
What are Ceramides?
Ceramides are glue like lipids which are naturally present in our skin.They have the ability to protect the skin barrier by keeping it moisturized.They are naturally produced by our skin but with the passage of time as we age and due to harsh weathers,using harsh and drying soaps and skin drying ingredients in our skincare products,the production of Ceramides start to decrease.They are important as they play the role of a glue which keeps the skin cells joined together,they also protects the skin from environmental attacks like pollution and harsh weathers.
Also read:
Things to know about your skin barrier and how to protect it
Types of Ceramides:
Natural Ceramides:
Natural ceramides are made in the outermost layers of our skin,they are naturally formed there.They are also commonly found in animals and plants.
Synthetic Ceramides:
The other name of synthetic Ceramides is Pseudoceramides ,they are not natural as the are made by humans or you can say them man made Ceramides syntehetic ceramides are mostly used in the skincare products.They do not have any contaminants and they are considered to be more secure than natural ceramides.
How Ceramides protect and repair the skin barrier?
What does it mean when we talk about a damaged skin barrier and how do we go about repairing it ? Ceramides are fundamental, to understand what is the skin barrier and how it can become faulty.Our skin's outermost layer:the epidermis that keeps the good stuff in and keeps the bad stuff out is really quite similar in structure to a wall ,if you have dead skin cells which are the bricks and then you have a sort of a lipid goo that forms the mortar and ensures the integrity of the skin's epidermis and is vital to a healthy barrier.Ceramides are up to 50% of that lipid goo, so they're a type of fat.
How does Ceramide levels deplete?
Various things can happen to our skin that causes Ceramide levels to deplete and decrease over time.Things like sun damage,washing,aging and even in context of inflammatory skin problems like acne and rosacea,Ceramide levels can deplete. Lower levels of ceramides can actually trigger hyperkerarosis which can encourage follicular plugging and that leads on to the dreaded comedones and breakouts. Low levels of humidity cause the skin to dry out and encourage everything to get more clogged up,so many acne sufferers aren't keen on using moisturizer because they've had negative experiences.
Benefits of Ceramides for skin:
Ceramides are beneficial for our skin as they:
➡They keep the skin moisturized and make it soft and smooth.They prevent the skin from signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
➡Ceramides are like a shield that secure our skin from the environmental attacks like pollution and dry weather.
➡Ceramides protect the skin's natural moisture and do not allow it to escape,resulting to gain a healthy skin barrier.
➡Keeps irritation and dryness at a bay by keeping the skin hydrated and well moisturized.
➡Ceramides keep the skin healthy and protects it from germs and bacteria.
Also read:
Use Glycerin for treating ageing skin
Ceramide skincare:
A ceramide enriched skin care system is actually key to support the acne skin whilst people with acne are potentially inclined towards the usage of acne actives like retinoids and azelaic acid.
When it comes to repairing a damaged skin barrier, Ceramides are the best ingredients and the reason they're so helpful is because they are versatile, they're suitable for all skin types and will be hydrating even for oily skin types.We might naturally think,if I need a moisturizer or not? in context of oily skin but very helpful even in oily skin combination skin types and they're suitable for those with acne prone skin because they don't tend to clog and they tend to be very calming in those with rosacea .
A damaged skin barrier is often part and parcel of the problem,Ceramides are really helpful if you've just been overdoing products, your skin begins to behave little on the sensitive side and you just need to take a complete break from active ingredients and just get your barrier back to normal health.
How to use Ceramides in skincare:
Ceramides should be used alongside humectants,occlusives and emollients and if you've been struggling with your skin barrier and you are finding it difficult to keep up an active routine or you feel too nervous about starting one then Ceramides are highly recommended.Make ceramides an essential part of your basics.They're often present in skin care products like ceramide moisturizers, creams, serums, and toners all of which can help keep your skin healthy by improving its ceramide levels.
Conclusion:
Choose skincare products like serums,moisturizers and toners having Ceramides in them.By using these products we can improve our skin's overall health,as the natural production of Ceramides decrease over the time,a Ceramide skincare becomes essential for us to secure it from getting dry,damaged and rough having negative effects like damaged skin barrier and acne.Ceramides do not allow the moisture to escape from the skin's outer layer,they have the ability to seal inside the moisture and keep the skin well hydrated.So for getting a healthy,hydrated,smooth and soft skin make Ceramides a necessary part of your skincare regime.
Also read:
Why Moisturizer is an essential part of our skincare routine?
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