The Hydrating Benefits of Ceramides for Your Skin Are Undeniable

Some skin care ingredients get a lot of buzz for their novelty—we’re looking at you, snail mucin. Others have earned their attention through years of science-backed results, and ceramides certainly fall in that tried-and-true category.

For starters, they’re wildly effective: Dermatologists regularly tout the many health and beauty benefits of ceramides. And they’re also a bit of a unicorn since just about everyone can reap those rewards. Unlike harsher, potentially irritating skin care superstars (like retinoids and alpha-hydroxy acids), ceramides are actually ideal for people with sensitive skin. In short, yes, you should probably start using them—especially if you’re dealing with dry skin or sensitivity.

Here’s everything you should know about ceramides—including what they are, why they’re worth it, and exactly how to add them to your skin care routine.

What are ceramides?

Ceramides are lipids (a.k.a. fatty molecules) that exist naturally in the skin. They’re a crucial component of the stratum corneum, the protective outer layer of the epidermis, Mary L. Stevenson, MD, assistant professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Langone Health, tells SELF.¹

“The analogy we usually use [to describe the stratum corneum] is bricks and mortar,” Rajani Katta, MD, a Houston-based board-certified dermatologist and voluntary clinical faculty member at the Baylor College of Medicine, tells SELF. Where your skin cells are the bricks, the lipids between them—which include ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids—represent the mortar.²

Stick with this analogy for a second. When the structure of the stratum corneum (or skin barrier) is intact, you have a solid brick wall—with nice, smooth mortar. This helps keep hydration in and potential irritants out.³ But if you have cracks in that mortar—picture a crumbly wall that’s falling apart—your moisture barrier is compromised: It lets water escape (via a process called transepidermal water loss, or TEWL), which can cause your skin to dry out and possibly become more reactive to irritants.

“Ceramide production naturally decreases as we get older, which is part of the reason aging skin may become inherently drier and more prone to rashes and irritation,” Lauren Penzi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York, tells SELF.² Overusing certain products—particularly ones that are dehydrating—and exfoliating too often can also wreak havoc on barrier function and deplete ceramides, she adds. Finally, folks dealing with inflammatory skin conditions like eczema also tend to have lower ceramide levels or an incorrect ratio of them, Dr. Stevenson says.³

So, if you’re lacking in natural ceramides, can topical versions help? That’s a resounding yes, according to all of the experts we spoke with.

But what exactly can ceramides do for your skin?

As mentioned above, ceramides are excellent for reinforcing the skin barrier, creating a nice seal that prevents TEWL while simultaneously blocking external irritants from getting in, says Dr. Penzi.⁴ They’re also emollients, ingredients that help to smooth and soften the skin, she adds, which is one reason why they’re most often found in moisturizers. And, even if you’re not dealing with dryness (lucky you), ceramides are still worth using just to give your skin a little extra boost of protection by helping to maintain healthy barrier function, Dr. Penzi points out.

The science on ceramides is pretty encouraging, especially for people with eczema (atopic dermatitis). For instance, Dr. Katta cites an older, 2002 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in which 24 children with eczema used a “ceramide-dominant” moisturizer. The majority of them (22 out of 24) saw significant improvements in their symptoms and a decrease in TEWL within three weeks of treatment.⁵ Point being, if you have eczema, it’s worth asking your dermatologist about potential treatments containing ceramides, Dr. Stevenson says; there are both over-the-counter options and prescription versions that can help.⁶

All of the derms we consulted mentioned that ceramides can be a game-changer for other inflammatory skin conditions, too, including psoriasis, acne, and rosacea—all of which also involve a compromised skin barrier.

Feel like the AHA serum or retinol cream you’re using is starting to wreak havoc on your skin? Dr. Penzi says that applying a product with ceramides before using other actives can calm your face down. Basically, the ceramides will help to create a seal on top of the skin, which yes, might minimize the efficacy of the other ingredients you layer on top, but it’ll also decrease the likelihood of irritation, she points out.

Similarly, moisturizers containing ceramides may have a particularly important role to play in treating breakouts. The most effective acne medications—retinoids and accutane, for instance—often come with notoriously annoying side effects, like redness, flaking, dryness, and irritation, that make it hard (if not impossible) to stay the course. Research suggests that applying a moisturizer with ceramides at the same time may can help counteract those harsh effects and help people stick with their acne medication.⁷

Okay, so we just listed some the main ways ceramides can help your skin, but perhaps the best thing about them? They can’t hurt. People of all skin types can use them, as there are no known side effects, says Dr. Penzi; Dr. Stevenson and Dr. Katta agree that there really isn’t anyone who shouldn’t slather them on.⁸ And they also play nicely with all kinds of other skin care ingredients, so you don’t have to stress about negative interactions.

How to use ceramides in your skin care routine.

Because of what they naturally do (i.e. help lock in moisture), you’ll get the best bang for your buck if you opt for a moisturizer with ceramides, says Dr. Penzi. (Although you can find them in a variety of other formulas, including serums, cleansers, and masks, which can also lead to more hydrated skin.)

The good news: There are plenty to choose from, including a bunch of affordable drugstore finds. For example, ceramides are a fixture in CeraVe products (ceramide...CeraVe...get it?), including the brand’s Daily Moisturizing Lotion and Moisturizing Cream, which were top recommendations from all of the dermatologists we interviewed. Dr. Stevenson also likes Aveeno’s Active Naturals Skin Relief Intense Moisture Repair Cream, which contains ceramides in addition to the soothing colloidal oatmeal the brand is known for. Dr. Penzi says La Roche-Posay’s Toleraine Double Repair Face Moisturizer with Niacinamide is an ideal ceramide moisturizer for the face as well.

Ceramides are also the star ingredient in Dr. Jart’s Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream, Ursa Major’s Alpine Rich Cream, and Elizabeth Arden’s convenient Advanced Ceramide Capsules. And skin care connoisseurs are probably already acquainted with SkinCeuticals’s Triple Lipid Restore cream, which packs a barrier-supporting trio of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.

If dryness is a major concern, you can also consider upping the ante by using a product with humectants—ingredients that attract water to the skin, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin—before ceramides, Dr. Penzi advises. In other words, try layering a hyaluronic acid serum underneath your ceramide-containing cream.⁹ “You’re basically doubling down on the moisturizing effects. The humectant will pull water in and the ceramides will help create a seal that locks it in for extra skin hydration,” she says.

FYI, some brands may specifically call out which ceramides (such as ceramide 1 or ceramide 3) are in their products. There are multiple different types of ceramides in the skin, which differ based on the length of their molecular structure, Dr. Penzi explains.¹ But that really doesn’t matter in terms of skin care products, as it doesn’t impact or change their efficacy. In other words, it isn’t like one type is superior to others, she says. Ultimately it’s not worth paying a ton of attention to the exact ones you’re applying, Dr. Katta adds. As long as any kind of ceramide is involved, you’ll be giving your skin a hydration—and overall health—boost.

Sources:

1. Journal of Lipid Research, Whole Picture of Human Stratum Corneum Ceramides, Including the Chain-Length Diversity of Long-Chain Bases
2. DermatoEndocrinology, Epidermal Surface Lipids
3. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, Understanding the Epidermal Barrier in Healthy and Compromised Skin
4. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, Skin Hydration is Significantly Increased By a Cream Formulated to Mimic the Skin’s Own Natural Moisturizing Systems
5. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Ceramide-Dominant Barrier Repair Lipids Alleviate Childhood Atopic Dermatitis
6. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Efficacy of a Lipid-Based Barrier Repair Formulation in Moderate-to-Severe Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis
7. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, Moisturizers and Ceramide-Containing Moisturizers May Offer Concomitant Therapy With Benefits
8. Dermatology Commons, Are Ceramide Containing Creams A Safe And Effective Treatment For Patients With Atopic Dermatitis?
9. Drugs in Context, Emollient Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

Related:

• These Are the Biggest Vitamin C Benefits for Your Skin
• How to Get Rid of Redness on Your Face, According to Dermatologists
• Here’s Everything Vitamin E Can Do for Your Skin