skincare, ceramides, skin, dry skin, moisturised skin

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Here's why ceramides are the best anti-ageing skincare ingredient

Ceramides make up over 50 per cent of the skin's composition, so it is no surprise that they play a vital role in determining how your skin looks and feels 

Retinols and acids may be hogging up all the spotlight when it comes to anti-ageing super-ingredients, but ceramides—the building blocks that keep your skin plump and supple—are just as important. They're well-researched too, making them a pro-approved way of keeping your skin looking and feeling moisturised and healthy. Here's everything you need to know about adding them to your routine. 

What are ceramides?

Just like you need to include healthy fats in your diet, your skin too benefits from these lipids and naturally produces them too. “Ceramides are lipids or fats that are naturally present in your skin. They are the glue that holds our skin cells together to create a barrier to protect against loss of hydration. About 50 per cent of the outer layer of the skin comprises ceramides,” says cosmetic dermatologist, Dr Niketa Sonavane, Ambrosia Aesthetics, Mumbai. It’s their waxy nature that prevents water loss from the skin and holds it together. 

It is said to seal the cracks between skin cells tiles, and keeps your cells arranged together in a layer, which helps keep the hydration from leaking out. "If ceramides are low, it weakens the barrier function of the skin and leads to dryness, dehydration, eczema, chapped skin, irritable skin, acne, redness and sensitivity,” says Dr Chytra Anand, cosmetic dermatologist and chief formulator, SkinQ.

Although the skin produces ceramides naturally, the production reduces as we age, which is why skin gets drier is we get older. In women, it reduces especially post the age of 35 as the oestrogen levels decrease,” says Dr Anand. The thinning of the skin as you get older is a direct result of declining levels of ceramides, which affect the elasticity of the skin, therefore resulting in fine lines, especially around the eyes and forehead. 

How topical application works

“Although we have always known about the barrier function of ceramides, it’s only with the extensive research in the last decade that we have a better understanding of how it can penetrate the skin with topical application. Ceramide creams and moisturisers are some of the most technically advanced moisturisers available today,” says Dr Anand. In fact, a study shows that moisture content is significantly increased if you apply topical ceramides to prevent any loss. “Ceramides work best when you use them along with humectants such as glycerin. The glycerin will draw water to your skin and ceramides will prevent it from escaping. Apply your ceramide cream or lotion in the shower itself. Just pat your body dry and apply it on damp skin to lock in the hydration,” says Dr Sonavane.

What do I eat to boost ceramides?

If you want to increase ceramide production from the inside-out, eating a diet rich in healthy fats will help. "Include lots of nuts, seeds, oily fish, nut butter and ghee in your diet for supple, glowing skin,” says Dr Sonavane. Dairy, eggs, and soybeans also contain large amounts of sphingolipids, which are precursors and signal the skin to produce more ceramides. 

Also read:

Moisturiser or hydrator—which product do you need for your skin type?

5 ways to get dry and uncomfortable skin glowing again during winters

6 ways to hydrate your skin from the inside-out this winter