Cholesterol is one of three major lipid classes found in the skin that serve essential functions not only in terms of good skin health but also the health of the entire body. One of the skin's most important jobs is to provide a permeable barrier through which water passes, helping to maintain the proper moisture level in the body. According to the University of Vermont, an imbalance of skin cholesterol may be an indication of a systemic health problem.
Skin Appearance
The website Inside Cosmeceuticals reports that the skin matrix is often likened to bricks-and-mortar, where the skin cells are the bricks and the matrix is the mortar. The three primary lipid classes: cholesterol, ceramides and fatty acids combine to create the mortar. If cholesterol is depleted, the skin cells begin to deteriorate and crumble away. The outer level of the skin, known as the stratum corneum, begins to flake. This creates dry skin or in medical terms: xeroderma. Depending upon the severity, the condition can result in redness and scaling.
Skin Disorders
Excess levels of cholesterol in the skin can produce disfiguring flaps of yellow plaques that tend to accumulate around the eyes. The disorder, known as xanthogranulomatosis, is described in a research article published in the June 1993 issue of "Journal of Investigative Dermatology." The underlying cause is a disturbance of lipid metabolism so treatment aims to correct the underlying disorder. However, topical acid treatments and laser vaporization are often employed to remove the plaques.
Diagnostic Tool
According to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, skin contains more cholesterol than any other organ except the liver. Skin cholesterol levels are a good indicator of the presence of coronary artery disease, or CAD, leading the Food and Drug Administration to approve a skin test for diagnosing CAD called Cholesterol 1, 2, 3. The test is performed by placing two drops of liquid in the palm and measuring the intensity of the color change effected by the presence of cholesterol.
Cosmetic Application
Topical application of cholesterol effectively soothes and plumps up dry skin. Chinese researchers have proven it's effective in treating burns. Consumers became aware of its cosmetic properties in 2009 after Oprah Winfrey endorsed it on her TV show. The product she endorsed is 100-percent emu oil, obtained from a large flightless bird native to Australia. Dr. Leigh Hopkins of the American Emu Association is part of a team that sets standards for emu oil commercialization. Hopkins explains that emu oil is composed primarily of cholesterol.
References
- University of Vermont Dept. Molecular Physiology: The Body's Water
- Inside Cosmeceuticals: Empowering the Skin Matrix
- "Journal of Investigative Dermatology"; Enhanced low-density lipoprotein; R. Bergman, et. al.; June 1993
- "Academic Journal of the First Medical College of PLA"; Anti-inflammatory activity and healing; W. Qiu et.al.; April, 2005
- Uniquely Emu: Emu Oil Research
- IVD Technology: Convenience is key to marketing home cholesterol tests
