Research Summary Ceramides are a family of lipids composed of a sphingoid base and a fatty acid. In the skin, they are primarily found in the stratum corneum, where, along with cholesterol and free fatty acids, they form the inter-corneocyte lipids. Together with other lipid groups, ceramides play a crucial role in the formation of dense lamellar structures between adjacent corneocytes. This structure is essential for maintaining an effective barrier against water evaporation and protecting the skin from the penetration of foreign agents. Changes in ceramide levels and relative composition, which can lead to impaired lipid arrangement, have been observed...
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Research Summary In this study, three cream formulations were compared to assess the influence of different excipients on the skin barrier and stratum corneum hydration. The first cream was formulated with lipophilic emollients: petrolatum, paraffin oil, cetylstearyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate, and paraffin. The second cream was formulated with both emollients (cetylstearyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate) and humectants (urea and glycerin), as an oil-in-water emulsion. The third cream contained emollients (paraffin oil, cetyl palmitate, cetylstearyl alcohol) and humectants (urea and glycerin) in a multiple emulsion system, water1-oil-water2 type (W1/O/W2), of second order and three components.The formulations were tested on the forearm of...
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Research Summary Glycerin is widely used in cosmetics as well as in pharmaceutical formulations, primarily as a humectant. In vitro studies have shown that glycerin prevents crystallization of the stratum corneum model lipid mixture at low room humidity. However, it is unclear whether this effect might influence skin barrier function during repeated application of glycerin in a cream base to normal skin. Therefore, the influence of a cream containing 20% glycerin was compared with its placebo cream in a bilateral, double-blind study involving 17 healthy volunteers. The effect was evaluated by measuring hydration with a corneometer and assessing skin barrier...
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Research Summary Moisturizing creams marketed to consumers often contain trendy ingredients and are accompanied by exciting names and attractive claims. However, moisturizers are also an important part of the dermatologist’s armamentarium to treat dry skin conditions and maintain healthy skin.These products can be regarded as cosmetics, but they may also be regulated as medicinal products if they are marketed for the treatment of dry skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and ichthyosis. When moisturizers are used on so-called dry skin, they address various distinct disorders that manifest with the generally recognized symptoms of dryness. Dryness is not a single entity;...
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