Dr Lalitha Badul

There are three types of lipids found in the skin. These are ceramides, cholesterol and free fatty acids.

Ceramides: Are mainly found near the surface of the skin where they serve the purpose of holding the skin cells together like a glue and seal in moisture in the skin.

Cholesterol: It’s a wax-like substance found in all cells including the skin. It is used by the body to make hormones, Vitamin D and other substances that aid digestion. An accu¬mulation of too much cholesterol can cause fatty deposits in the skin and is a primary indication of heart disease.

Essential fatty acids (EFA’s)
Are the building blocks of cell membranes. ‘Essential’ means that they have to come from an outside source and are not manufactured by the body. EFA’s are also known as Omega Fatty Acids.

The body synthesises most fats it needs but Linolenic Acid (Omega-3) and Linoleic Acid (Omega-6) are the two most essential lipids that can only be obtained by the food you eat. Next week we look at ‘EFA’s and your skin’.