Phytoceramides are natural components of human skin. There are different ceramide types (conveniently numbered – i.e. ceramide 3) and six are commonly found in skin. All four layers of the epidermis contain ceramides, and they play an important role by creating a barrier which reduces infection and helps to retain the skin’s moisture. Reduction in the amount of ceramides may result in dry skin, dermatitis, or wrinkles.
For years, ceramides were thought of simply as a structural component to the lipid bilayer of all cell membranes, including the upper layer of skin. Interestingly though, recent studies reveal that they can also act as a signalling molecule that send messages to the rest of the body. The “signal” they perform is apostosis, programming a cell to die.
The plant-based ceramides are considered to be very efficient in working with the consequences of getting older. They are quite similar to the organic whole body Ceramides and simply come to substitute them, thus repairing epidermis health and dynamics. They reproduce the broken safety hurdle and maintain nutritional value and wetness needed to strengthen mobile durability and epidermis flexibility. They therefore come in useful in as far as rehydrating the epidermis is involved as well as enhancing flexibility of the epidermis.
Phytoceramides heals every cell of your body from the inside out (through taking supplements) and the outside in (by using the topical cream). The more hydrated your body is, the younger you will remain. Even going through menopause, women’s bodies dry out from the inside out. Every single organ and cell in your body dries up as we age, and it makes it harder for our blood to circulate oxygen to every cell in our body through every capillary. We need to stay hydrated in order to stay young, and feel good and healthy. After FDA has approved the phytoceramides, a new market for skin rejuvenating products has risen. They are called the new fountain of youth and beauty products manufacturers promise us that they will make us look younger without using methods like Botox injections.
In a Japanese study, eight people’s eyelids were treated with a ceramide gel for four weeks with the result that “water content of eyelid skin was significantly increased after treatment.”
There’s also a French study, showing that topical ceramides with “other skin lipids” improved skin barrier repair. A ceramide gel was also shown to relieve dermatitis, while sphingolipids (which as mentioned above is made up of phytoceramides) from a lactic acid was applied topically and increased the skin’s resistance to aging (source). Topical creams containing phytoceramides will combat your wrinkles head on. Not only that, but as you see from the study above, it will make your skin thicker and firmer in just weeks. With the supplement, you’re healing from the inside out, and topically, you’re healing your body from the outside in.
The phyto in phytoceramides means plant, so they are derived from plants. So a warning could be made here for the people suffering with gluten sensitivity. It’s very important to take the right dosage of phytoceramides. It is recommended to take a single capsule of 350 mg with food, and the result should be noticeable in 4 to 12 weeks. Make sure that you find a manufacturer that is approved by the FDA, this will ensure the safety when taking phytoceramides.
