Oral Prescription Containing Ceramide, Proanthocyanidins, Quercetin, and Citrus Flavonoids Improves Sensitive Skin in...

Sensitive skin is characterized by impaired skin barrier function, inflammation and dryness, and the effects of existing treatments are limited. This study explored an oral prescription containing ceramides, proanthocyanidins, quercetin, and citrus flavonoids, which inhibit inflammation, enhance barrier function, and regulate the gut-skin axis through a multi-target mechanism to improve skin sensitivity.

The therapeutic effects of the oral prescription were evaluated using the -induced AD model and the AEW-induced dry skin model. Key endpoints included skin lesion severity, TEWL, skin thickness, mast cell infiltration, inflammatory cytokine levels, and skin barrier protein expression. Microbial changes in gut flora were also assessed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the gut-skin axis on sensitive skin.

In the AD model, oral high-dose prescription (PG-H) significantly improved skin lesions, reduced TEWL, epidermal thickness, and ear swelling, decreased mast cell infiltration and inflammatory factors (IL-4/6/31, ET-1), and enhanced barrier hydration. In the AEW model, PG-H reduced TEWL, alleviated dryness and scaling, and upregulated the expressions of filaggrin, AQP3, and loricrin, indicating a restoration of skin barrier function and relief from skin dryness. Furthermore, PG-H regulates the intestinal flora (with a reduction in Firmicutes/Bacteroides) and suggests potential therapeutic benefits for skin health.

The oral formulation containing ceramides, proanthocyanidins, quercetin, and citrus flavonoids improves skin barrier function, reduces inflammation, restores skin hydration, and modulates the skin-gut axis through multi-pathway and multi-target mechanisms, effectively alleviating symptoms of atopic dermatitis and dry skin, thus highlighting its potential as a novel dietary supplement for treating sensitive skin and related conditions.