CeraVe, a L'Oreal brand, says new research reveals that ceramides can help protect against UV-induced skin barrier damage. CeraVe's sun care products, including its Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Face Sheer Tint (shown above), contains ceramides to help restore the skin’s natural barrier and lock in moisture. 

Dermatologist Dr. DiAnne Davis says, "CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Sheer Tint is the perfect daily step in a skincare routine because it has broad-spectrum sun protection we need every day, plus the barrier-restoring ingredients I tell my clients to look for and a tint that blends nicely with most skin tones."

The brand is also helping to educate consumers on better sunscreen habits, due to the findings of another survey—mentioned below—that says most Americans are not wearing sunscreen daily. 

Insights from the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology

The new insights are from a peer-reviewed publication featured in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, titled: "Efficacy of Ceramide-Containing Formulations on UV-Induced Skin Surface Barrier Alterations."

The research is about a skincare regimen that includes a moisturizer and sunscreen formulated with ceramides—and how it can help protect against UV-induced skin barrier damage, while improving skin barrier health overall against chronic sun exposure.

The skin barrier is responsible for filtering 60-70 percent of UVB rays, and a critical component of the skin barrier is ceramides. Ceramides make up 50% of the lipids found within the skin barrier.

The clinical study, conducted by a team of skin barrier experts, evaluated the impact of UV exposure on the skin barrier using a UV dose equivalent to about two hours of UV exposure during a sunny July day in New York City. 

Tom Allison, senior vice president and global head of professional marketing at CeraVe, says, "As the leader in therapeutic skincare, we at CeraVe are committed to working with dermatologists to better understand the skin barrier and develop efficacious formulas with critical ingredients for healthy skin, like ceramides, that deliver therapeutic solutions for all skin needs.

Allison continues, "We are proud to be a part of the L'Oréal Research and Innovation team that continues to lead the industry in scientific developments that help improve patient outcomes by providing safe and effective therapeutic skincare."

Consumers Aren't Wearing Sunscreen Daily

Not all consumers are wearing sunscreen daily, proving there is a need for more skincare education.

CeraVe's new survey, conducted by OnePoll, asked 2,000 U.S. adults about their sunscreen habits. 

• 56% of people say they have become more health-conscious over the past year
• Only 29% say they have made more of an effort to take care of their skin
• 96% admit they do not wear sunscreen daily

The clinical study's findings, noted above, reinforce the benefits of ceramide-containing skincare products in helping protect against UV-induced skin barrier damage, which may contribute to barrier-compromised skin conditions like eczema.

Yet, the majority of Americans remain unaware of the crucial benefits of ceramides in suncare.

• 94% of those surveyed say they have not looked for ceramides in their skincare ingredients over the past year
• 64% say they wish their sunscreen had skincare benefits

In addition to sunscreen and moisturizers, CeraVe offers a variety of dermatologist-developed skincare products that contain ceramides 1, 3 and 6-II, which are essential to restoring and maintaining the skin's natural barrier.

CeraVe products utilize patented Multi Vesicular Emulsion (MVE) Technology, which releases key ingredients into the skin slowly over 24 hours, allowing them to absorb into the skin to repair, restore and retain the skin's natural barrier.