Work

Identification of Phytosphingosine-Based 1-O-Acylceramide in Human Stratum Corneum and Investigation of Its Role in Skin Barrier

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Phytosphingosine-based 1-O-acylceramide (CER 1-O-ENP) from the human stratum corneum (SC) has not been reported. A High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry was used to identify CER 1-O-ENP from the skin samples. A vehicle-controlled human study was performed to investigate the physiological interaction between CerNP and CER 1-O-ENP with respect to skin hydration, cohesion, and TEWL were measured. Twenty volunteers were treated with test creams containing CER 1-O-ENP together with CerNP, which significantly improved skin barrier parameters after four weeks of application: 1. Skin hydration was increased by 26% compared to that of CerNP alone and moisture retention was better than CerNP control. 2. SC cohesion was fostered significantly only formulated with CER 1-O-ENP. The results suggested a boosting effect of CER 1-O-ENP on the skin barrier functions exerted by CerNP since only a small amount is required, as low as 1/10 of CerNP. This is the first report on the identification of CER1-O-ENP in the human SC and its skin barrier activities in human skin. In conclusion, the combinatorial use of CER1-O-ENP and CerNP at an appropriate relative ratio could be a new normal in developing an ideal moisturizer for dry and atopic skin.

Source: Cosmetics

DOI: 10.3390/cosmetics12020047