Ceramide NP / AP / EOP

Ceramides are lipids that naturally occur in the skin's outermost layer, making up roughly 50% of the stratum corneum's lipid content. They're the "mortar" that holds skin cells together. Without enough of them, the barrier develops gaps, moisture escapes, and irritants get in more easily.

This is especially relevant for wecalm's target conditions (atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis), since all three are barrier-dysfunction conditions where ceramide levels are measurably depleted.

• Ceramide NP (Non-hydroxy sphingosine)

  The most abundant ceramide subtype in healthy skin. Forms the structural backbone of the lipid bilayer, the primary "brick and mortar" ceramide most directly responsible for barrier integrity.

• Ceramide AP (Alpha-hydroxy phytosphingosine)

  Contributes additional structural stability and is associated with antimicrobial lipid function, relevant for eczema-prone skin, where barrier breaks are also entry points for bacterial colonization (a known complication in atopic dermatitis specifically).

• Ceramide EOP (Esterified omega-hydroxy phytosphingosine)

  A long-chain "linker" ceramide. It physically bridges and anchors the lipid layers together and is considered essential for a fully cohesive barrier rather than isolated lipid patches.

Real stratum corneum contains multiple ceramide subtypes working together. A single-ceramide formula only partially mimics natural skin lipid composition. Using NP, AP, and EOP together is closer to how skin actually builds its own barrier.