Your everyday moisturiser may do a wonderful job keeping your skin soft and supple, but it probably isn’t addressing the deficiency in your eczema-prone skin.
In a nutshell, the very top layer of your skin is the epidermis, and the topmost layer of that is the stratum corneum. This topmost layer provides a barrier, keeping moisture in and environmental irritants out.1 In atopic dermatitis, this topmost layer is deficient in some of its key components – the ceramides – so it struggles to keep moisture trapped inside. Atopic dermatitis is commonly referred to as eczema.2
But what if you could help address this moisture loss and resultant dryness? That's where ceramide containing products come in. They have the benefits of moisturisers with the added advantage of ceramides.
"Lipid ratio. The lipid matrix that holds the barrier layer together is made up of 40-50% ceramides, but it also contains cholesterol (25%) and free fatty acids (10–15%).3 These three lipids are needed to maintain the barrier layer.4"
Research has shown that adding ceramides to moisturisers and can help manage dryness and itchiness of helps to improve eczema-prone skin.
"What do ceramide products do?
Studies have been trying to answer this question, with very promising results. One study investigated the use of a ceramide-containing moisturiser and cleanser in people with eczema.5 They were instructed to use both a ceramide-containing moisturiser and a ceramide-containing cleanser twice a day for six weeks. Reduction in dryness, itchiness and a consequent improvement in skin condition was seen after six weeks.5
Adding ceramides to moisturisers and can help manage dryness and itchiness of eczema-prone skin. Which is why Ego has worked so hard to develop a ceramide-containing moisturiser and cleanser specially formulated to help people with dry, itchy, eczema-prone skin."
References
1) Cork MJ. The importance of skin barrier function. J Dermatol Treat. 1997; 8: S7 - S13.
2) BetterHealthChannel. Eczema (atopic dermatitis) [Internet]. [updated 2018 Apr; cited 2018 Dec 17]. Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/eczema-atopic-dermatitis
Sajic D, Asiniwasis R, Skotnicki-Grant S. A Look at Epidermal Barrier Function in Atopic Dermatitis: Physiologic Lipid Replacement and the Role of Ceramides. Skin Therapy Lett. 2012; 17(7):6-9.
Zeichner JA, Del Rosso JQ. Multivesicular Emulsion Ceramide-containing Moisturizers: An Evaluation of Their Role in the Management of Common Skin Disorders. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2016;9(12):26–32.
Man MQ M, Feingold KR, Thornfeldt CR, Elias PM, Optimization of Physiological Lipid Mixtures for Barrier Repair. J Invest Dermatol. 1996; 106(5):1096–1101.
Lynde CW, Andriesson A. A Cohort Study on a Ceramide-Containing Cleanser and Moisturizer Used for Atopic Dermatitis. Cutis. 2014; 93(4): 207 - 213.
