Ceramides are lipid molecules that make up about one-third of your skin's barrier (alongside cholesterol and fatty acids). They're essential for keeping water in and irritants out—when ceramide levels drop, your skin barrier weakens and common skin issues get worse. The research suggests that products containing ceramides matching your skin's natural lipid composition could help restore barrier function.

This was a literature review examining how ceramides function in skin structure and barrier health, plus what happens to ceramide levels in people with compromised skin barriers.

Funding not disclosed in abstract