Ceramide 1 and ceramide 3 act synergistically on skin hydration and the transepidermal water loss of sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin.
BACKGROUND
Stratum corneum intercellular lipids, such as ceramides, play an important role in the regulation of skin water barrier homeostasis and water-holding capacity. Aim To evaluate the potential water retention capacity of control emulsion and three oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions containing ceramide 1, ceramide 3, or both.


METHODS
Fifteen healthy Asian women (age, 20-30 years) with healthy skin, pretreated with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), applied the tested emulsions twice daily over a period of 28 days. Skin hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) values were measured on the indicated days with a Corneometer(R)825 and a TEWAMETER TM210, respectively.


RESULTS
The maximum increase in skin humidity was reached after 4 weeks, with values of 21.9 +/- 1.8% and 8.9 +/- 0.9% for emulsion C and control emulsion, respectively. The maximum decrease in TEWL was also reached after 4 weeks, with values of 36.7 +/- 4.7% and 5.1 +/- 0.8% for the same emulsions.


CONCLUSIONS
It can be concluded that all the tested ceramide-containing emulsions improved skin barrier function when compared with untreated skin. There was some indication that ceramides 1 and 3 contained in emulsion C might exert a beneficial synergistic effect on skin biochemical properties, such as skin hydration and TEWL, and play a key role in the protection mechanism against SLS irritation.
Huang
Huey-Chun
HC
Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chang
Tsong-Min
TM
D000328:Adult; D001834:Body Water / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002518:Ceramides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004655:Emulsions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects*
D002518:Ceramides; D004655:Emulsions; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; C018480:ceramide 3