DAEJEON, South Korea, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- South Korean scientists have created synthetic lipids called pseudoceramides that can be used in treating diseases in which skin cells grow abnormally.

Ceramides are lipids found in the outermost skin layer called the stratum corneum, which consists of dead skin cells and mainly serves as a physical barrier, researchers said. Ceramides’ main biological function is to differentiate and control how skin cells grow.

The scientists led by Lee Jeung-hoon at the Chungnam National University created synthetic ceramides, called pseudoceramides, to treat skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and glucocorticoid-induced epidermal atrophy, in which the skin shrinks due to skin cell loss.

They found three pseudoceramides -- called K6PC-4, K6PC-5, and K6PC-9 -- significantly increased the amount of proteins produced when skin cells differentiate. The results were obtained both on cultured skin cells and on a reconstituted epidermis.

The study that included researchers Kwon Yoo-bin, Kim Chang-deok, Youm Jong-kyung, Gwak Hyung-sub, Park Byeong-deog, Lee Byeung-hun, Saewha-jeon, Kim Bo-joong, Seo Young-joon and Park Jang-kyu is reported in the September issue of the Journal of Lipid Research.