According to insights from a peer-reviewed publication featured in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (JDD), titled, "Efficacy of Ceramide-Containing Formulations on UV-Induced Skin Surface Barrier Alterations," a skin care regimen that includes a moisturizer and sunscreen formulated with ceramides can help protect against UV-induced skin barrier damage and improve skin barrier health overall against chronic sun exposure.
The skin barrier is responsible for filtering 60-70% of UVB rays. A critical component of the skin barrier is ceramides, which make up 50% of the lipids found within the skin barrier.
The clinical study evaluated the impact of UV exposure on the skin barrier using a UV dose equivalent to about two hours of UV exposure during a sunny July day in New York City.
The authors—Hawasatu Dumbuya PhD, Xi Yan MD PhD, Ying Chen PhD, Janet Wangari-Olivero PhD, Stephen Lynch PhD, Patricia Brieva PhD, Qian Zheng MD PhD, Charbel Bouez PhD—are from L’Oréal Research and Innovation, Clark, NJ.
L'Oréal owns the CeraVe brand, a mass market brand that works with dermatologists to develop its formulations.
The team evaluated the following test zones: 1) untreated non-UV exposed skin, 2) untreated, UV-exposed skin and 3) UV-exposed, skin treated with a ceramide-containing sunscreen and moisturizer from CeraVe. The study found that skin barrier cells from the UV-exposed, untreated zone were significantly damaged. However, skin barrier cells from UV-exposed skin treated with ceramide-containing sunscreen and moisturizer were preserved and mimicked the skin barrier cells that were unexposed to UV – underscoring the importance of a ceramide-containing skin care routine.
The clinical study's findings reinforce the benefits of ceramide-containing ski ncare products in helping protect against UV-induced skin barrier damage, which may contribute to barrier-compromised skin conditions like eczema. However, the majority of Americans remain unaware of the crucial benefits of the ingredient, as 94% of those surveyed have not looked for ceramides in their skin care ingredients over the past year.
In addition, consumers are falling short when it comes to protecting skin from sun, and CeraVe contends there is a need for more education on the topic.
According to results from a CeraVe survey conducted by OnePoll among 2,000 U.S. adults, 56% of people say they have become more health conscious over the past year, yet only 29% say they have made more of an effort to take care of their skin. What’s more, a staggering 96% admit they do not wear sunscreen daily.
"As the leader in therapeutic skincare, we at CeraVe are committed to working with dermatologists to better understand the skin barrier and develop efficacious formulas with critical ingredients for healthy skin, like ceramides, that deliver therapeutic solutions for all skin needs," said Tom Allison, SVP and global head of professional marketing at CeraVe. "We are proud to be a part of the L'Oréal Research and Innovation team that continues to lead the industry in scientific developments that help improve patient outcomes by providing safe and effective therapeutic skincare."
Of those surveyed, the majority of consumers (64%) say they wish their sunscreen had skin care benefits.
The L’Oréal brand has been expanding its roster with products like CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Sheer Tint, which combines the crucial ingredients of ceramides with a subtly tinted, broad-spectrum formula that was developed with dermatologists.
In addition to sunscreen and moisturizers, CeraVe offers a variety of dermatologist-developed skincare products that contain ceramides 1, 3 and 6-II, which are essential to restoring and maintaining the skin's natural barrier.
CeraVe products utilize patented Multi Vesicular Emulsion (MVE) Technology, which releases key ingredients into the skin over 24 hours, allowing them to absorb into the skin to repair, restore and retain the skin's natural barrier.