Hydrolipidic film and skin cement: all about skin lipids

The good health of our skin depends in part on often overlooked but essential elements: skin lipids, which make up the hydrolipidic film and intercellular cement. They play a crucial role in protecting and hydrating the skin, while preventing various skin problems. However, with age, their production decreases, making the skin more vulnerable. This article explores these lipids in detail, their role, their composition, and how to preserve them to maintain healthy, radiant skin.

The essentials of skin cement and the skin's hydrolipidic film

• The lipids in the hydrolipidic film and intercellular cement help maintain good skin hydration by forming a water barrier.

• The hydrolipidic film is made up of sebum and sweat, while the lipid cement is composed of ceramides, cholesterol, and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

• With age, the production of skin lipids decreases, weakening the skin barrier and increasing dehydration, leading to problems such as dryness and loss of firmness.

• A gentle skincare routine that respects the skin's pH, rich in lipids and moisturizing active ingredients, is essential to restore and maintain the integrity of the hydrolipidic film and skin cement.

Essential components of the skin's barrier function

Before going any further, let's put things into context and seewhich skin functions the lipid cement and the hydrolipidic film belong to.

The epidermis, the first of thethree layers of the skin, is a multifunctional barrier between the body's interior and the outside world. This barrier fulfills several roles:

• A physical barrier role that makes the skin waterproof, rigid, and shock-resistant.

• A photoprotective roleto filter UV rays.

• An immune roleto protect against infections.

• A barrier role water provided in particular by the intercellular lipid cement and the hydrolipidic film. These elements prevent the evaporation of water and help maintain optimal hydration in the skin. It is these last two components that interest us today and that we will develop in the rest of this article.

What is the composition of the hydrolipidic film?

This mixture of water and lipids (called an emulsion) contains:

• Sebum, an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands. It is evacuated through the pores of the skin.

• Sweat composed of water and electrolytes (such as sodium, magnesium, or potassium) is also evacuated through the pores. Sweat is produced by sweat glands located in the deeper layers of the skin.

Due to its composition,this film has a slightly acidic pH,generally between 4.5 and 5. This natural acidity has several functions:

• It promotes the shedding of dead skin cells in the the epidermis.

• Itinhibits the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.

• Itsupports the development of bacteria beneficial to skin health.

What is the composition of lipid cement?

Intercellular lipid cement (or intercorneocyte cement) helps bind the cells of the stratum corneumlike the cement that binds the bricks of a house, creating a barrier. It is made up of:

• Ceramides.

• Cholesterol.

• Polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Due to this lipid composition, the intercellular cement repels water molecules and blocks water evaporation.

Why do skin lipids decrease with age?

As we age, the production of skin lipids decreases. This weakens the skin barrier and leads to a loss of elasticity, firmness, and an increased tendency to dehydration. In women, this phenomenon is amplified during menopause, mainly due to hormonal changes, such as declining estrogen levels. This results in:

• Reduced sebum production because estrogen plays a crucial role in regulating sebum production by the sebaceous glands.

• A decrease in hyaluronic acid, a substance that helps maintain skin moisture. As with sebum, estrogen is involved in the production of hyaluronic acid.

This results in:

• Increased dehydration because with less sebum and hyaluronic acid, the skin loses its ability to retain water. This manifests as dry skin, feelings of tightness, a dull complexion, and the appearance of fine lines.

• Aslowed cell renewalwhich can lead to an accumulation of dead cells on the skin's surface and give it a rough texture.

A damaged and unbalanced hydrolipidic film makes the skin more vulnerable to external aggressions and can also contribute to skin problems such as eczema or rosacea. It is therefore essential to implement a suitable skincare routine, favoring moisturizing and nourishing products to compensate for this loss of lipids and hydration.

How can we restore and preserve the skin's hydrolipidic film and lipids?

In this area, as with many other skin parameters, the adage "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" takes on its full meaning. Indeed, while natural aging is inevitable and must be accompanied by specific care (we'll discuss this below), it is above all essential to avoid damaging the lipid film and cement. alt="FILORGA skincare products protect the skin's hydrolipidic film" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0872/7914/1161/files/Les_soins_GLOBAL_REPAIR_ADVANCED_des_Laboratoires_FILORGA_1.jpg?v=1741099240">

The facial cleansing routine should therefore be carried out with gentle, non-aggressive gestures and tools. Mechanical scrubs such as those performed with horsehair gloves should be avoided and those based on fruit acids should be preferred.

It is also recommended to use products that respect the skin's acidic pH and are rich in lipids and moisturizing active ingredients.

For this purpose, our skin experts recommendGLOBAL-REPAIR ADVANCED skincare products, whose ingredients mimic the skin's natural lipid composition, thus helping to restore the skin barrier.They are inspired by lipid-rich post-procedure treatments used in aesthetic medicine. FILORGA Laboratories have developed a patented repair factor that combines several types of lipids to support the skin's natural repair process.

These treatments are available in two forms:

• GLOBAL-REPAIR ADVANCED ELIXIRis a serum with a light, oily texture that doesn't leave skin feeling greasy. It combines innovative anti-aging active ingredients with precious oils to nourish the skin and target 10 signs of aging (wrinkles, firmness, radiance, relief, elasticity, nutrition, tone, density, evenness, and contours).

• GLOBAL-REPAIR ADVANCED CREAM is an anti-aging face cream with the same properties as the serum. This anti-aging cream, particularly suitable for all mature skin types, has a fine, melting, and enveloping texture, providing optimal comfort.