Glossary

Ceramide

Written by Reviewed by the SYNC editorial team Published Last reviewed Editorial standards

Ceramide — a family of waxy lipid molecules that make up a large share of the skin barrier and help hold skin cells together while limiting water loss. Naturally produced in the skin, ceramides are also used topically to help reinforce a dry or compromised barrier.

Key points

  • Ceramides are among the most abundant lipids in the outer layer of skin, the stratum corneum.
  • They work alongside cholesterol and fatty acids to form the barrier's structured lipid layers.
  • Ceramide levels tend to decline with age and are often lower in conditions like eczema.
  • Topical ceramides are commonly paired with cholesterol and fatty acids to mirror the skin's natural lipid ratio.

Frequently asked

What do ceramides do in a moisturizer?

They help replenish the skin's own barrier lipids, supporting moisture retention and reducing the dryness and sensitivity linked to a weakened barrier.

Are synthetic ceramides effective?

Lab-made ceramides are structurally similar to those in skin and are widely used because they are stable and consistent in formulations.

Related topics

This is a foundational entry in the SYNC Skin Encyclopedia and is expanded over time. Educational information only — not medical advice.

Encyclopedia

Further reading

This entry was written and checked against the sources below. They are published by clinical and scientific bodies, they are listed most readable first, and each one opens in a new tab. They are background for the whole entry rather than footnotes to individual sentences.

  1. Skin barrier function DermNet NZ Clinical guidance dermnetnz.org
  2. Clinical significance of the water retention and barrier function-improving capabilities of ceramide-containing formulations: A qualitative review PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. The Efficacy of Moisturisers Containing Ceramide Compared with Other Moisturisers in the Management of Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Literature Review and… PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. Ceramides and Skin Health: New Insights PubMed Peer-reviewed (abstract) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Skin Lipid Barrier: Structure, Function and Metabolism PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. The stratum corneum barrier: impaired function in relation to associated lipids and proteins PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

SYNC does not publish medical advice. Nothing here replaces a consultation with a doctor or a pharmacist about your own skin.