Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41814138›Full record

ArticleJournal of cosmetic dermatology2026

Impact of Ceramide Acyl Chain Length on Human Skin Barrier Recovery and Hydration.

Do-Hyeon Gwon, Hyun Kyung Choi, Eun Ok Lee, Sung Kyu Hong, Chang Seo Park, Jin Wook Kim, Kwang-Hyeon Liu

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Do-Hyeon GwonBK21 FOUR KNU Community-Based Intelligent Novel Drug Discovery Education Unit, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4460-5884
Hyun Kyung ChoiDepartment of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Eun Ok LeeLCS Biotech, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
Sung Kyu HongDepartment of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9370-0801
Chang Seo ParkLCS Biotech, Yongin, Republic of Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5991-0883
Jin Wook KimLCS Biotech, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
Kwang-Hyeon LiuBK21 FOUR KNU Community-Based Intelligent Novel Drug Discovery Education Unit, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3285-5594

Funding

Korea Health Industry Development Institute RS-2023-KH141293Ministry of Health & Welfare (MOHW), Republic of Korea RS-2025-02263556
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo compare the effects of ceramide acyl chain length on human skin barrier function.

methodsMixtures of phytoceramide containing non-hydroxy fatty acids (CER NPs) with different acyl chain lengths and corresponding test creams were prepared: C16-C24 CER NP and C24-C30 CER NP (ultra-long-chain, ULC CER NP). The content of C24 CER NP in these formulations was 0.3% and 39%, respectively. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analysis of skin ceramides was performed using tape-stripped human stratum corneum (SC) samples. A vehicle-controlled intra-subject human study was conducted to assess acute skin barrier recovery, skin hydration, and SC cohesion.

resultsLevels of C24 and C26 ceramides were significantly increased in skin treated with C24-C30 CER NP. These analytical results were consistent with the findings from the human efficacy study. Functional evaluations demonstrated that C24-C30 CER NP significantly enhanced barrier recovery, skin hydration, and SC cohesion compared with C18 CER NP, whereas the C16-C24 CER NP formulation primarily improved skin hydration. Overall, the C24-C30 CER NP formulation exhibited the strongest barrier-enhancing effects among the tested formulations.

conclusionThis study provides the first in vivo human evidence that ceramides with longer acyl chains confer superior improvements in skin barrier function compared with shorter-chain ceramides. These findings highlight the critical role of acyl chain length in ceramide-mediated barrier enhancement and support the rational design of ceramide-based formulations for optimized skin barrier restoration.

Indexed as

CeramidesEpidermisSkinSkin CreamWater Loss, InsensibleAdultChromatography, LiquidFatty Acids, NonesterifiedFemaleHumansMaleTandem Mass SpectrometryYoung AdultCeramidesFatty Acids, Nonesterifiedceramidechemical analysiscohesionhydrationskin barrier

Identifiers

PMID41814138
PMCPMC12979692

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.