Surface Lipids as Multifunctional Mediators of Skin Responses to Environmental Stimuli

January 2010 in “ Mediators of Inflammation ”

Chiara De Luca, Giuseppe Valacchi

TLDR Skin surface lipids are important for skin health and altering them could help prevent aging and treat skin conditions.

The 2010 review article examines the role of skin surface lipids (SSLs) in mediating skin responses to environmental factors like UV radiation, chemicals, and microbes. SSLs, composed of sebum and keratinocyte lipids, including squalene, undergo oxidative changes that can lead to skin inflammation, immune depression, and cancer. Changes in SSL composition can indicate skin disorders like pytiriasis versicolor, acne, and dermatitis. The review suggests nutriceutical interventions to restore SSL balance for skin protection. It also discusses the unique presence of squalene in human sebum, its antioxidant role, and its potential support for the Aquatic Ape Theory. Data from studies with 30 healthy subjects, 30 patients with seborrheic dermatitis, and 30 HIV-positive SD patients show SSL composition changes in skin diseases and aging. The document concludes that SSLs are crucial for skin health, and their modulation could prevent aging and manage skin conditions, highlighting the need for more research on long-term nutrient effects on skin.

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