Utilizing Untargeted Lipidomics Technology to Elucidate Differences in Lipid Compositions Among Sensitive Dry, Sensitive Oily and Healthy Skin Types

<b>Background:</b> Sensitive skin exhibits impaired skin barrier function. The lipid composition of the skin, a pivotal element within the stratum corneum’s “brick-and-mortar” structure, plays a dual role: it is integral to cell differentiation processes and serves as a vital nutrient re...

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Main Authors: Agui Xie, Xingjiang Zhang, Qing Huang, Jianxin Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Metabolites
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/5/292
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author Agui Xie
Xingjiang Zhang
Qing Huang
Jianxin Wu
author_facet Agui Xie
Xingjiang Zhang
Qing Huang
Jianxin Wu
author_sort Agui Xie
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Sensitive skin exhibits impaired skin barrier function. The lipid composition of the skin, a pivotal element within the stratum corneum’s “brick-and-mortar” structure, plays a dual role: it is integral to cell differentiation processes and serves as a vital nutrient reservoir for cutaneous microbiota, thereby influencing the skin’s microecological balance. There is a notable research gap concerning the comparative analysis of physiological parameters and lipid profiles among individuals with sensitive dry skin (SDS), sensitive oily skin (SOS), and healthy skin (HS). <b>Methods:</b> A total of 95 females (18–25 years) were grouped: SDS (<i>n</i> = 32), SOS (<i>n</i> = 31), and HS (<i>n</i> = 32). Stratum corneum water content, oil content, and TEWL were measured. Lipids from sebaceous glands and stratum corneum (tape-stripping) underwent UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis. Differential lipids were identified via OPLS-DA, volcano plots, and LMSD. <b>Results:</b> In terms of physiological indicators, notable disparities emerged in oil content and stratum corneum water content between the SOS and both the HS and the SDS. Sensitive skin, whether dry or oily, displayed a higher transepidermal water loss (TEWL) value than healthy skin, reflecting a declined state of skin barrier function. Regarding the sebum samples, the relative percentages of sphingolipids (SP) and glycerophospholipids (GP) were significantly higher in SDS. Regarding the stratum corneum samples, the percentages of SP in SDS were significantly higher. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study, for the first time, conducted a comprehensive analysis of the skin’s physiological properties, lipidomics of sebum, and stratum corneum lipids among groups with SDS, SOS, and HS. These observations indicate a profound association between skin barrier dysfunction in SDS individuals and, in particular, sphingolipids (SP).
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spelling doaj-art-4c14f7765b3940de8a43abab8d07e0cb2025-08-20T03:47:57ZengMDPI AGMetabolites2218-19892025-04-0115529210.3390/metabo15050292Utilizing Untargeted Lipidomics Technology to Elucidate Differences in Lipid Compositions Among Sensitive Dry, Sensitive Oily and Healthy Skin TypesAgui Xie0Xingjiang Zhang1Qing Huang2Jianxin Wu3Skin Health and Cosmetic Development & Evaluation Laboratory, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaSkin Health and Cosmetic Development & Evaluation Laboratory, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaSkin Health and Cosmetic Development & Evaluation Laboratory, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaSkin Health and Cosmetic Development & Evaluation Laboratory, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China<b>Background:</b> Sensitive skin exhibits impaired skin barrier function. The lipid composition of the skin, a pivotal element within the stratum corneum’s “brick-and-mortar” structure, plays a dual role: it is integral to cell differentiation processes and serves as a vital nutrient reservoir for cutaneous microbiota, thereby influencing the skin’s microecological balance. There is a notable research gap concerning the comparative analysis of physiological parameters and lipid profiles among individuals with sensitive dry skin (SDS), sensitive oily skin (SOS), and healthy skin (HS). <b>Methods:</b> A total of 95 females (18–25 years) were grouped: SDS (<i>n</i> = 32), SOS (<i>n</i> = 31), and HS (<i>n</i> = 32). Stratum corneum water content, oil content, and TEWL were measured. Lipids from sebaceous glands and stratum corneum (tape-stripping) underwent UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis. Differential lipids were identified via OPLS-DA, volcano plots, and LMSD. <b>Results:</b> In terms of physiological indicators, notable disparities emerged in oil content and stratum corneum water content between the SOS and both the HS and the SDS. Sensitive skin, whether dry or oily, displayed a higher transepidermal water loss (TEWL) value than healthy skin, reflecting a declined state of skin barrier function. Regarding the sebum samples, the relative percentages of sphingolipids (SP) and glycerophospholipids (GP) were significantly higher in SDS. Regarding the stratum corneum samples, the percentages of SP in SDS were significantly higher. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study, for the first time, conducted a comprehensive analysis of the skin’s physiological properties, lipidomics of sebum, and stratum corneum lipids among groups with SDS, SOS, and HS. These observations indicate a profound association between skin barrier dysfunction in SDS individuals and, in particular, sphingolipids (SP).https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/5/292sensitive skinlipidomicsskin barrier dysfunctionsphingolipids
spellingShingle Agui Xie
Xingjiang Zhang
Qing Huang
Jianxin Wu
Utilizing Untargeted Lipidomics Technology to Elucidate Differences in Lipid Compositions Among Sensitive Dry, Sensitive Oily and Healthy Skin Types
Metabolites
sensitive skin
lipidomics
skin barrier dysfunction
sphingolipids
title Utilizing Untargeted Lipidomics Technology to Elucidate Differences in Lipid Compositions Among Sensitive Dry, Sensitive Oily and Healthy Skin Types
title_full Utilizing Untargeted Lipidomics Technology to Elucidate Differences in Lipid Compositions Among Sensitive Dry, Sensitive Oily and Healthy Skin Types
title_fullStr Utilizing Untargeted Lipidomics Technology to Elucidate Differences in Lipid Compositions Among Sensitive Dry, Sensitive Oily and Healthy Skin Types
title_full_unstemmed Utilizing Untargeted Lipidomics Technology to Elucidate Differences in Lipid Compositions Among Sensitive Dry, Sensitive Oily and Healthy Skin Types
title_short Utilizing Untargeted Lipidomics Technology to Elucidate Differences in Lipid Compositions Among Sensitive Dry, Sensitive Oily and Healthy Skin Types
title_sort utilizing untargeted lipidomics technology to elucidate differences in lipid compositions among sensitive dry sensitive oily and healthy skin types
topic sensitive skin
lipidomics
skin barrier dysfunction
sphingolipids
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/5/292
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