Ceramide occurs naturally in our skin, is one of the nine lipids that present in the epidermis. The lipid is on the top layer of the skin, and is to prevent water loss and losing moisture. Studies indicate a positive relationship between aging and the loss of ceramide in epidermis. Patients often suffer from skin dryness, itching, flaking, peeling or even severe skin disorders. By applying ceramide skin care products can help repair the lipids that have been lost due to chronic dryness, environmental factors, and skin damage caused by certain skin conditions.

Ceramides are the major lipid constituent of lamellar sheets present in the intercellular spaces of the stratum corneum. These lamellar sheets are thought to provide the barrier property of the epidermis. It is generally accepted that the intercellular lipid domain is composed of approximately equimolar concentrations of free fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides. Ceramides are a structurally heterogeneous and complex group of sphingolipids containing derivatives of sphingosine bases in amide linkage with a variety of fatty acids. Differences in chain length, type and extent of hydroxylation, saturation etc, are responsible for the heterogeneity of the epidermal sphingolipids. It is well known that ceramides play an essential role in structuring and maintaining the water permeability barrier function of the skin.

According to dermatological studies, patients between 40 to 50 years old contain only 30% to 40% of ceramide in the epidermis. Skin disorders such as psoriasis, ichthyosis, acne, and atopic dermatitis are triggered due to the lacking of ceramide. Applying ceramide skin-care products daily can prevent water loss.