Role of ceramides in skin disease and skin care formulations - A Review

Abstract

Ceramides are sphingolipids found in stratum corneum of the skin epidermis, where fatty acid is connected to sphingosine via amide linkage. Ceramides along with cholesterol: cholesteryl esters: fatty acid are found as lipids in startum corneum in a highly ordered lamellar form which is involved in skin barrier functions and is involved in regulating transepidermal water loss through skin. Alterations of ceramide molecular profiles are characterized in skin diseases associated with impaired permeability barrier functions, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and xerosis. The role of ceramides in healthy and diseased skin have paved the way of research towards the use of ceramides as therapeutic agents for improving skin barrier function. This review focuses on the role of Ceramides in skin diseases and their use as therapeutic agents in skin-care products to improve or restore skin barrier function.