Takagi, Yutaka. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024;13(6):1749.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with skin itching, impaired skin barrier function, and water-holding capacity impairment. The levels of ceramide in the stratum corneum of AD patients are reduced. Ceramide is the main component of intercellular lipids and is crucial for its function. Treatments that increase ceramide levels are effective in AD care. Synthetic pseudoceramide (cetyl PG hydroxyethyl palmitamide (SLE66)), with a structure developed through molecular design, and eucalyptus leaf extract (ELE) promote epidermal ceramide synthesis. Topical application of skin moisturizers containing SLE66 and ELE can improve the barrier function and water retention capacity of AD skin while improving skin symptoms.
The Efficacy of SLE66 on AD Skin Symptoms
The synthesized pseudo ceramide (hexadecyl p-hydroxyethyl palmitic amide (SLE66)) has two long alkyl chains and a structure with amide bonds and hydroxyl groups as hydrophilic units. The analysis of the properties of alkyl chains indicates that there are saturated straight alkyl chains in SC with structural characteristics very similar to natural ceramides, and there is no unsaturated or methylated branching, which is necessary to form a multi lipid bilayer in SC. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray analysis indicate that the stable α-configuration of this ceramide structure has a lamellar structure containing fatty acids and cholesterol. Topical application of this compound significantly restores the skin's water-retaining capacity while improving dryness caused by solvent treatments.
