Why Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea—Also Known as MLE Technology—Is the Best Barrier Repair Ingredient

Our skin contains a built-in barrier system that serves two main purposes: 1) to hold in water and 2) to keep irritants, allergens, and other harmful particles out. Many different factors can affect the health and functionality of your skin’s barrier, including genetics, your Baumann Skin Type®, and the environment in which you live.

If you have dry skin, eczema, rosacea, or other similar conditions, your skin barrier is impaired. Fortunately, it is possible to repair this barrier and restore healthy, happy skin. One of the best barrier repair ingredients currently available is something called myristoyl/palmitoyl oxostearamide/arachamide mea, or MLE technology.

What Is MLE Technology?

MLE technology essentially uses a combination of ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol, and other lipids to mimic the natural lamellar structure of your skin’s own lipids that are located in the stratum corneum, or outermost layer of the epidermis. Think of the stratum corneum as a brick wall, where water-loving corneocytes are the bricks and water-repelling lipids are the mortar. When this structure is compromised, so is your skin’s barrier function.

We know that these intercellular lipids are highly ordered lamellar structures, meaning they are arranged in a specific alternating pattern. If the organization of the lipids is not correct, the skin barrier cannot do its job properly, and you may have dry, flaky, itchy skin or other undesirable skin conditions.

What Is Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea?

Myristoyl/palmitoyl oxostearamide/arachamide mea is a pseudoceramide that uses multi-lamellar emulsion (MLE) technology to mimic the natural organization of lipids within healthy human skin. Studies have shown that applying properly formulated MLE ingredients can restore healthy barrier function and improve chronic conditions such as atopic dermatitis by rebalancing the skin’s natural lipid structure with the proper ratios and lamellar pattern.

What Does Barrier Repair Cream Do?

There are a variety of barrier repair creams out there, but you want to see the terms “MLE technology” or “multi-lamellar emulsion formulation” listed on the bottle. While many products contain ceramides, fatty acids, and other lipids, the key to barrier repair is getting these ingredients in the correct ration and layered structure in order to very closely match your skin’s natural lipid structure.

Thus, barrier repair creams that use MLE technology have been formulated to mimic the natural lamellar structures within healthy human skin. The result is a stronger “brick and mortar” cell arrangement in the stratum corneum and therefore improved barrier function.

Which Products Use MLE Technology?

There are several products on the market that use MLE technology to repair the skin barrier. Zerafite Ultra Rich Body Cream and Zerafite™ Barrier Repair Moisturizer face cream are effective physician-recommended products that imitates the exact ratio of natural skin lipids required for healthy barrier function. The product gets its name from the xerophyte species of cacti that has evolved to thrive in very dry climates. The body cream can be purchased without a prescription, but you need a doctor’s code (you can use mine: DRB) to purchase the face creams.

Zerafite also offers an MLE formulation designed specifically for sensitive skin types such as rosacea prone skin that struggles with redness and irritation. Zerafite™ Soothing and Calming Moisturizer is recommended for these Baumann Skin Types®:

DSPT DSNT DSPW DSNW

Zerafite products are only available through physicians, so set up an appointment with a Skin Type Solutions physician partner if you’re interested in trying them or learning more about how their MLE technology works.

When you work with an STS physician partner, you’ll have the opportunity to take the Baumann Skin Type® questionnaire to find out which of the 16 Baumann Skin Types® you are. Using this information, your doctor will recommend the most appropriate skin care products for you, which may include a barrier repair moisturizer.

Bottom Line

If you struggle with dry, flaky, or irritated skin, you may need a barrier repair moisturizer that uses MLE technology to restore proper barrier function. When shopping for skin care products, understanding some of the science behind the way they work, and knowing which ingredients to look for and which to avoid for your skin type, is crucial.

If you don’t know your Baumann Skin Type® yet, schedule an appointment with one of our Skin Type Solutions physician partners today to take the quiz and start your journey toward getting clear, healthy skin!

For more skin science information and tips for caring for your unique skin type, follow Baumann Cosmetic on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Wishing you great skin!

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