INGREDIENT · BARRIER LIPIDS
Ceramides in skincare: barrier repair and what trials show
Ceramides are the ingredient everyone says to look for if your skin barrier is struggling. The trials do show barrier benefits. They also show that a good moisturiser without much fuss often does as well.
You may see it written as
- Ceramide NP
- Ceramide AP
- Ceramide EOP
Why ceramides, and why in eczema
The theory is simple. A trial in adults with eczema starts from the idea that the broken skin barrier in eczema may be due to decreased levels of ceramides in the outer skin layer, so topping them up may help.1 Some of its authors work for a skincare company.1
It is a reasonable theory. What matters is whether the trials back it up, so here they are.
What happened in an eczema trial
Adults with moderate eczema used a ceramide-dominant moisturising cream and cleanser, or a placebo, for 28 days. The eczema severity score fell significantly in both groups, with no difference between them by day 28. Water loss through the skin and hydration, though, improved significantly in the ceramide group while staying the same or worsening on placebo. Patient satisfaction was higher with the ceramide products for itch relief, dryness, softness and smoothness, and nobody withdrew because of side effects.1
So the barrier measurements moved and the eczema score did not separate. Ceramide moisturisers do look like they help the barrier. Whether that translates to better eczema, in a month, is not shown by this trial.
Babies at risk, and how it compares
A trial tried to prevent eczema in babies at high risk using a ceramide emollient. It enrolled 100 infants against a goal of 208, and 28% were lost to follow-up. Eczema was diagnosed in 13.2% of the emollient group and 25.0% of the control group at 12 months, which is a big gap on paper, but the result was not statistically significant, probably because of the small numbers.2
A small split-body study of 20 people with mild to moderate eczema compared a hyaluronic acid foam with a ceramide emulsion cream. Both improved all signs by week 4, and the foam showed significant improvement at week 2 where the ceramide cream did not.3 That does not mean the foam is better in general, only that the ceramide cream did not stand out in that test, and that hyaluronic acid is a fair competitor.
Ceramides in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Evidence on cosmetic products in pregnancy is limited overall, so ask your doctor or midwife about the specific product you use.4
What you will see on the label
The names to look for are Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP or Ceramide EOP. In Snifff, all three reads as Risk-free. For the rest of the formula, see what the score means and how to read the list.
As Snifff shows itCeramides
Ceramide NP
Risk-freePregnancy and nursing
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Ceramide AP
Risk-freePregnancy and nursing
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Ceramide EOP
Risk-freePregnancy and nursing
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Wording as it appears in the extension, which can change between releases.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Common questions about ceramides
Do ceramides repair the skin barrier?
In a 28-day eczema trial, a ceramide-dominant cream improved skin hydration and water loss more than placebo.1 Eczema scores improved equally in both groups, though.
Can ceramides prevent eczema in babies?
A trial of 100 high-risk infants found eczema in 13.2% of those using a ceramide emollient and 25.0% of the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant, partly because the trial was underpowered.2
Are ceramides better than other moisturisers?
We did not find evidence that they are. In a 20-person split-body study, a hyaluronic acid foam and a ceramide cream both improved eczema, and the foam acted faster by week 2.3
Is ceramides safe in pregnancy?
Snifff found no pregnancy-specific evidence for Ceramides. Ask your doctor or midwife about the product you use.
WHERE THIS COMES FROM
Sources
- A daily regimen of a ceramide-dominant moisturizing cream and cleanser restores the skin permeability barrier in adults with moderate eczema: a randomized trialSpada F, et al. · Dermatologic Therapy · 2021
- A randomized controlled trial of an emollient with ceramide and filaggrin-associated amino acids for the primary prevention of atopic dermatitis in high-risk infantsMcClanahan D, et al. · Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · 2019
- A clinical evaluation of the comparable efficacy of hyaluronic acid-based foam and ceramide-containing emulsion cream in the treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitisDraelos ZD · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2011
- Cosmetic dermatology in pregnancy and lactation: a risk-benefit framework for clinical practiceKovacs T, et al. · International Journal of Dermatology · 2026
This page explains an ingredient. It is not medical advice, and it is not an assessment of any product. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a skin condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist.