Update 6/1/20. Ceramides, also called phytoceramides have become very popular in the cosmetics world because of the promise they might reduce wrinkles and improve the appearance of skin. But, do ceramides really work, or are they a scam? Are they safe and do they have any side effects? Fortunately, there is clinical research to help us figure this out. In this review, I'll show you the clinical studies on phytoceramides so you can decide if they are right for you.
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What Are Ceramides?
We make them naturally. There are up to 9 different types of ceramides in human skin, where they act like cement, providing a barrier between the environment and us. Ceramides are also a humectant, so they hold water in the skin. This helps keep the skin stay plump and supple. As we age, the levels in the skin tend to decline. This can lead to skin that's dry, itchy aged-spotted, and even wrinkles.
Where Do They Come From?
As mentioned in the video below, the original source of ceramides was cow brains. Fortunately, that's no longer the case. Today, most ceramides are derived from:
- Rice
- Wheat
- Potatoes
This is why they are are also called phytoceramides. The prefix phyto means plant. Ceramides can also be found in spinach, milk, eggs, and soybeans. It's estimated that Americans only get about 0.3 to 0.4 grams per day from food sources. While they are synthetically made, research suggests they can help support your natural production of their critical molecules.
Ceramides And Wrinkles: The Research
Several studies have noted ceramides may have a positive effect on skin health and helping wrinkles look better too. Watch the video for a review of the research.
Ceramide Products I like
If you're looking for a quality supplement, remember most of the clinical research is on a phytoceramide supplement called LipoWheat. As the name tells us, this is a supplement derived from wheat. That's not to say rice-photoceramides rice doesn't work. They may and some research has noted they do. It's just that 
Even though LipoWheat is derived from wheat, it is gluten-free.
Ceramide Side Effects
So are ceramides safe? For most people, it appears so. Studies have not reported any negative side effects from phytoceramide supplements. Keep in mind the people in the clinical studies tended to be pretty healthy overall, with no skin conditions, or medical problems. Because of this, here are some basic guidelines for those who may not be “healthy.” This list is not complete:
- Start with less than recommended for the first week
- Stop taking at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- Don't take if you are pregnant/breastfeeding
- If you take any medicine, like blood thinners, speak to your pharmacist and doctor first
- If you have a wheat allergy, it may be wise to use a rice-derived phytoceramide until more is known
FAQ
Are they vegan?
Supplements coming from wheat and rice are vegan. If they come from vegetables, you can generally assume they are vegan.
Will they help rosacea?
Ceramides have not been studied to see if they treat rosacea. They may or may not. The same is true for eczema and psoriasis too. If these are conditions you suffer with, this may take some experimenting to see if they work for you. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have information on these conditions.
Do ceramides help acne?
It's hard to say at this point. Halo Beauty is a ceramide containing a supplement that has some very interesting before and after acne pictures. That supplement contains multiple ingredients however which makes it difficult to know which ingredients are clearing up acne.
How do they work?
The idea is that taking synthetic phytoceramide supplements will add to and/or ramp up our natural ceramide production.
When do you use them?
There seems to be no best time to use ceramides. I suggest taking them with food to minimize any stomach upset you may experience. Taking them several hours apart – such as at breakfast and dinner for example – might help maintain ceramide levels better than using them only once per day.
Do they help hair growth?
Some supplements may combine phytoceramides with biotin or other hair-healthy ingredients but it's not known if they improve hair growth or the look/luster of hair. The same thing is true about reversing gray hair too.
What About Ceramide Creams?
Several moisturizing creams are available which contain this substance. They range from very expensive to not expensive at all. There are no head-to-head comparisons on 
Do supplements help ceramide creams work better? In theory, taking something by mouth combined with applying a cream to the surface of skin might be better than either product alone. But it would take clinical research to know for sure.
How Long Does It Take To Work?
About 1-3 months of regular use will be needed to see results. Keep in mind this is a general statement. Longer duration may be needed depending on how damaged skin is, to begin with. While everybody is different, deep wrinkles may not respond as well as more fine wrinkles.
The research appears to show ceramides can help crows feet and improve the overall look of skin. That said, the results are likely to be most noticeable in those with mild to moderate wrinkles and age spots.
What Do You Think?
References
- Differential effects of ceramide on cell viability and extracellular matrix remodeling in keratinocytes and fibroblasts
- Clinical investigation of skin beautifying effect of a beauty supplement containing rice derived ceramides (pdf)
- The moisturizing effect of a wheat extract food supplement on women's skin: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
- Polar lipids from wheat extract oil improve skin damages induced by aging: Evidence from a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in women and an ex vivo study on human skin explant.
Just found your website and really like the unbiased information you provide. I have an unusual comment regarding Ceramides and would like to share.
I’m 60 and starting taking Ceramides, either Life Extension or Vitacost, when I was 54 (I think). At first I could really tell a positive difference in my facial skin but, after maybe 6 months to a year, I began to notice what looked kinda like pimples so I quit taking them and moved them to the back of my supplement cabinet.
I think I tried them a few times during the next four years and bought them occasionally but saw no real effect to my face, and they would, again, get pushed to the back of my cabinet.
Fast forward four years to when I was 58 and diagnosed with hip arthritis. I can’t take glucosamine or chondroitin but felt (and still do) that hyaluronic acid and occasional MSM was somewhat helpful. Anyway, found an almost full bottle of ceramides and decided to finish them off. Heck, maybe they would help my skin a little. Well, by the end of the bottle, I could tell a big difference in the pain level of my hip arthritis but nothing had changed except the ceramides.
Two years later I’m still taking them and feel they are definitely helping my hip. Maybe it’s the placebo effect? I have no idea but I’m not planning on stopping them anytime soon. Combined with incline walking on my treadmill, I’ve quit using my cane.
Trish, that is terrific news! I’m really glad ceramides have helped your arthritis. I looked into this and there are some studies about how ceramides may have benefits for arthritis. Are you still getting those pimples you mentioned or have they stopped? The fact you no longer need a cane anymore is amazing! I am SO happy for you 🙂
Hi Joe! Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I’m a little amazed that my hip arthritis has gotten so much better. At 60 I wasn’t really thrilled about using a cane – not yet anyway.
I’m excited to hear that you found studies looking into ceramides for arthritis. I did quick PubMed searches but never found anything. But I’m hardly a professional researcher – ha ha.
To answer your question, no, I no longer get those weird pimples. I only got those when I first started taking ceramides. I suspect, but it’s just my suspicion, that since I first started taking them right around menopause, I still had plenty of lipids and moisture (and whatever) in my skin. But by the time I was 58, my skin was naturally becoming depleted of all the good stuff and welcomed the ceramides. At least that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it 😉
Trish, Don’t feel bad that you didn’t see much. Most of what I saw was pretty preliminary at this stage such as study about their anti-inflammation properties. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4320971/
Thats a good point about the pimples around menopause. that may have been the culprit. Truely amazing you no longer need a cane! Im really happy for you 🙂
I haven’t checked out the website much but contrasted to previous emailed reports, this seems somewhat a new format for you: Video presentation of the research and a much more general, more enthusiastic endorsement of a specific product, Lipowheat. Has something changed in your methodology or business model? And I have to ask, do you have any financial connection to specific products you mention, such as Lipowheat?
Thanks.
Hi Bill, I have no financial ties to any supplement company or brand. Nothing has changed. When I see before and after pictures showing something seems to work, I don’t mind saying it. There is research on LipoWheat. If there comes a time when opposing evidence comes to light, I’ll update the review with that info too. I think I think gave a reserved “endorsement” when, at the end of the post/video, I basically said results may vary.
About the videos: People told me they preferred watching a video rather than reading – and I actually enjoy doing videos.
Bill, “business model?” This was an unbiased review, just as Joe always gives people. He mentioned LipoWheat BECAUSE that’s the name of supplement used in the research. Also, if you watched the video, you saw a difference in the before/after picture. If there is visual proof, what’s so wrong with saying this may be a supplement to consider? There is nothing wrong with it.
I really enjoy the video reviews. I prefer to watch a video rather than read something if I can get away with it.
LOL – are you Donald Trump disguising as “Becky”?? You prefer videos – reading and searching out facts is a drag?? Somebody selling via images and staged scenarios is preferable?
And seriously, the guy is not a Beatified / Sainted Philanthropist – he is making a living off what he does. Most intelligent business owners have a business model. Sometimes those models include plugging other businesses or products for a cut of the profits. It’s business. It is a legitimate question.
True enough – if a product works, and there is tangible proof of that, people are going to want to access the product. I wasn’t specifically talking about whether it worked or not. I wanted to know if “Joe” is now as compromised as a Trump cabinet member wrt “impartial” reviews. But now that you bring it up, some cheesey photos purporting to show improvements are not “visual proof” – EVERYBODY has before and after photos, sometimes so bad you cannot tell, and most of the time doctored to misrepresent the results.
“Joe” started off on a premise of unrelenting scientific assessment and scientific method – that’s what got me interested in his reviews vs thousands of others doing before/after photos, video plugs, and other scammy blather. Caveat Emptor. I am one who does NOT trust videos and I do not appreciate “reviewers” who tout named products instead of specific compounds
Bill, I have to jump in on this because it seems your casting aspersions on me personally so I need to clarify further. You did not like my review on ceramides and so you are inferring things about me. That’s not right. So let me say again. I am 100% unbiased. Nothing has changed since I started writing about supplements over 20 years ago. I go where the evidence takes me. If I mention the name of a supplement its because its been used in clinical research. Being unbiased does not mean I cant give credit where credit is due.
The before/after picture I showed in the video did not come out of a magazine but a peer reviewed journal. While nothing is perfect, peer reviewed publications have a higher standard than pictures in magazines. I take the before and after picture as real until you or someone else can prove otherwise.
I’m not some copywriter who writes for search engines to get clicks. I’m a legitimate authority on dietary supplements. If I make money from this site, that’s not evil any more than what you make for being compensated for a service you provide. I don’t promote crap. If you took the time to read my reviews you see I often take expensive supplements and show people what are likely the active ingredients -which cost a lot less.
Since I assume you don’t know Becky how do you know shes not a democrat? Regardless, lets set politics aside and not bash people who you don’t know anything about.
Joe, this is crazy how I’ve never heard of this before. Is there a ceramide company/brand you like more than others?
Jane, I understand. It kind of surprised me too. Right now the Lipowheat supplement seems to have most of the clinical research. Companies often say “lipowheat” on their labels. That’s what I’d look for.
I have found Life Extension to be a quality brand. If I decide to try, I would start with them.
Judy, yes Life extension is a good brand. They’ve been around a long time.