Ceradan® is a dermatological skincare brand developed and owned by Hyphens Pharma International Limited, a specialty pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare company based in Singapore. Launched in 2011, the brand is positioned around skin-barrier repair, specifically targeting individuals with eczema-prone, dry, sensitive, itchy, or irritated skin.

Unlike conventional moisturiser brands that primarily market hydration, Ceradan’s central proposition is that repairing the skin barrier is fundamental to managing dryness and sensitivity. Its signature technology is a ceramide-dominant 3:1:1 lipid formulation, consisting of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids.

The brand describes itself as a “skin barrier expert,” rather than simply a moisturiser brand. Its current portfolio covers cleansers, washes, moisturisers, emollients, and targeted soothing products.1

Origins

Ceradan emerged from Hyphens Pharma’s dermatology business. According to Hyphens, the company identified an unmet need among families dealing with eczema-prone and sensitive skin and developed a science-led approach centred on repairing the compromised skin barrier.

The brand was officially launched in Singapore in 2011 and became Hyphens Pharma’s first proprietary brand. This distinction is important because Ceradan is not simply a third-party skincare brand distributed by Hyphens; it is an in-house dermatology brand developed, marketed, and owned by Hyphens Pharma.

Development of the brand

Ceradan initially focused strongly on emollient therapy for eczema and atopic dermatitis. Over time, the range expanded beyond a single moisturising cream into a broader skin-barrier regimen encompassing:

• Moisturisers
• Intensive emollients
• Facial/body cleansers
• Moisturising washes
• Soothing treatments
• Children’s products
• Hand-care products
• Diaper-care products

Hyphens subsequently expanded its dermatology portfolio and positioned Ceradan as its flagship dermatological brand.

The Skin Barrier

The fundamental idea behind Ceradan is the maintenance of the skin barrier. The outermost layer of skin, particularly the stratum corneum, acts somewhat like a protective wall. Skin cells provide the structural “bricks,” while lipids between the cells function as part of the “mortar.” Among these lipids are:

• Ceramides
• Cholesterol
• Free fatty acids

These substances are important for maintaining the skin’s barrier function and limiting excessive water loss. When the barrier becomes compromised, skin can become increasingly dry, itchy, sensitive, irritated, and reactive to environmental triggers. This is particularly relevant to conditions such as atopic dermatitis/eczema.

The 3:1:1 Ratio

The defining feature of the Ceradan brand is its 3:1:1 ratio. The formulation uses:

3 parts ceramides: 1 part cholesterol: 1 part free fatty acids

Ceradan describes this as its “3:1:1 ceramide-dominant science.” The company states the formulation is designed to replenish essential skin lipids and support restoration of the skin barrier. The significance of the ratio is that Ceradan does not simply add “ceramide” to a moisturiser; its formulation philosophy is based on combining multiple physiological skin lipids in a specific proportion. The brand differentiates itself from generic moisturisers through the concept of lipid replacement + barrier restoration.

According to the company’s published materials, the 3:1:1 system is intended to:

1. Replenish essential skin lipids;
2. Strengthen the skin’s protective barrier;
3. Reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL);
4. Improve skin hydration;
5. Reduce dryness and discomfort; and
6. Improve resilience of eczema-prone and sensitive skin.

Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)

TEWL, or transepidermal water loss, is the amount of water that escapes through the skin. A compromised skin barrier can allow more water to escape. Consequently, excessive TEWL is commonly used as an indicator of impaired barrier function. Ceradan uses reduction in TEWL as one of the ways to describe the effectiveness of its barrier-repair approach. Its company materials state that clinical studies have demonstrated improvements in hydration and barrier function associated with its 3:1:1 formulation.

The brand’s philosophy can essentially be summarised as:
Compromised barrier → increased water loss → dryness/sensitivity → replenish skin lipids → strengthen barrier → retain moisture.

One of Ceradan’s most significant developments is Ceradan® Advanced. It takes the original barrier-repair concept a step further by focusing not only on lipid replenishment but also on skin pH.

Ceradan says its Advanced formulation incorporates patented active pH-control technology designed to maintain the skin in an acidic range for an extended period. The company states that this can help support natural lipid production and barrier function.2

Development

Ceradan Advanced was launched in 2019 as a next-generation emollient. Hyphens subsequently received a UK patent, followed by patent grants in additional markets including the US, Singapore, and Malaysia.6

The company describes the product as capable of maintaining a lower skin pH for up to 12 hours.

This gives Ceradan two major technological pillars:

• Original Ceradan: 3:1:1 ceramide-dominant lipid replacement
• Ceradan Advanced: 3:1:1 lipid replacement + active pH control

Ceradan has evolved into a broad skincare system. Its current official product catalogue includes around 15 listed products/categories, although availability varies by market.

Major Product Families

Moisturisers and barrier creams

• Ceradan® Skin Barrier Repair Cream
• Ceradan® Hydra Moisturiser
• Ceradan® Daily Moisturising Cream
• Ceradan® Advanced Moisturising Cream

Cleansing

• Ceradan® Gentle Cleanser
• Ceradan® Moisturising Wash
• Ceradan® Advanced Emollient Wash

Targeted care

• Ceradan® Soothing Gel
• Ceradan® Advanced Hand Balm
• Ceradan® Diaper Cream

There are also market-specific products such as hand sanitising lotion and related formulations.

Key Products

Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream
Perhaps the product most closely associated with the traditional Ceradan proposition is the Ceradan® Skin Barrier Repair Cream. It is marketed as a 3:1:1 ceramide-dominant moisturiser intended for eczema-prone, dry, and sensitive skin. The brand positions it around three major benefits:

• Comfort: Helping alleviate itchiness, dryness, and discomfort.
• Restore: Replenishing skin lipids using the 3:1:1 formulation.
• Protect: Helping maintain moisture and reinforce the skin’s protective barrier.
  The product is available in different pack sizes depending on market, including 30 g and 80 g formats in Singapore.

Cleansing Philosophy
Ceradan does not restrict its barrier philosophy to moisturisers. The brand also offers cleansers designed to minimise disruption to sensitive skin. For example, Ceradan Gentle Cleanser is described as a non-foaming, soap-free face and body cleanser. The company states that it is formulated without SLS/SLES, parabens, fragrances, and colourants.3 Its Moisturising Wash similarly combines cleansing with the brand’s barrier-oriented approach.4 This reflects a broader concept: avoid unnecessarily disrupting the skin barrier during cleansing, rather than merely repairing it after washing.

Ceradan primarily targets people with:

• Eczema-prone skin
• Atopic dermatitis
• Dry skin
• Sensitive skin
• Itchy skin
• Irritated/reactive skin
• Compromised skin barriers

However, the products are not exclusively marketed toward people with diagnosed eczema. The company also positions parts of its range for general dry and sensitive skin and, increasingly, ageing skin. Some Ceradan products are designed for very young users as well. The company says its regimen can be used from the newborn stage, subject to the specific product and appropriate use.

Dermatologist and Clinical Positioning

A major part of Ceradan’s identity is its medical/dermatological positioning. Rather than competing primarily on cosmetic concepts such as fragrance, beauty, luxury, or sensorial experience, Ceradan emphasises dermatology, clinical testing, skin physiology, barrier repair, eczema, formulation science, and dermatologist recommendations.

The brand currently states that it is the #1 Top-of-Mind Moisturiser Brand among private dermatologists in Singapore, citing an IQVIA survey covering July 2022–June 2023. That claim is a brand-reported market-research claim, not a universal ranking of moisturisers worldwide.

Brand Positioning Summary

Comparison with Ordinary Moisturisers

The easiest way to understand the brand is to compare its philosophy with a generic moisturiser. A conventional moisturiser might primarily say: “We hydrate your skin.” Ceradan’s proposition is closer to: “Your skin is dry because its protective barrier is compromised; replenish the barrier’s essential lipids so the skin can retain moisture more effectively.” The moisturising effect is presented as a consequence of improving barrier function, rather than merely coating the skin with an occlusive ingredient.

Ingredient Philosophy

Ceradan’s formulations are built around a combination of barrier-supporting lipids rather than a single “hero ingredient.” The three most important components are:

• Ceramides: Important structural lipids in the skin barrier and the dominant component of Ceradan’s signature ratio.
• Cholesterol: A naturally occurring skin lipid that works together with ceramides and fatty acids in the stratum corneum.
• Free fatty acids: Another important class of skin lipids involved in maintaining barrier structure.
  The resulting 3:1:1 combination is the intellectual property/brand-science concept that makes Ceradan distinctive.

Formulation and Sensitivity

Ceradan deliberately emphasises formulations designed for sensitive skin. Depending on the product, the brand highlights the absence of ingredients such as fragrance, parabens, colourants, and SLS/SLES. Its products are consequently positioned as suitable for sensitive and reactive skin. However, “fragrance-free” or “hypoallergenic” should not be interpreted as meaning that every individual can never react to a particular product; highly sensitive or medically affected skin can still respond differently to individual ingredients.5

Although Ceradan originated in Singapore, it has expanded internationally. The company currently says the brand is present across 10 countries in Asia and the Middle East.

Malaysia is one of its important markets, with Ceradan products available through pharmacy and retail channels including Watsons. In 2024, Hyphens announced expansion of Ceradan into major Middle Eastern markets through a partnership with Cooper Pharma, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. This reflects Hyphens’ strategy of taking Ceradan from a Singapore-developed dermatology brand toward an international skin-health franchise.

Distribution Model

Ceradan has historically had a relatively strong connection with the medical channel. Its products can be found through:

• Dermatology clinics
• Hospitals
• Pharmacies
• Healthcare retailers
• E-commerce

This is strategically significant because the brand attempts to maintain professional credibility while also being accessible to ordinary consumers. In Singapore, the official distribution information lists locations including National University Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, and National Skin Centre, alongside retail channels.

Ceradan is best understood as one of the flagship proprietary brands of Hyphens Pharma International Limited. Hyphens is a Singapore-based specialty pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare company. Its proprietary portfolio includes Ceradan and other healthcare brands.

Within the company’s dermatology business, Ceradan is particularly important. Hyphens describes its dermatology division as focusing on conditions including atopic dermatitis, acne, ageing skin, hyperpigmentation, and hair loss. Ceradan is the brand most strongly associated with its atopic dermatitis / skin-barrier franchise.

From a branding and business perspective, Ceradan has several distinctive advantages:

1. Clear scientific proposition: The 3:1:1 ratio gives the brand an easy-to-understand scientific signature.
2. Strong niche: Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, Ceradan is strongly associated with eczema, sensitive skin, and barrier repair.
3. Medical credibility: Its connection to Hyphens Pharma and its dermatologist/paediatrician positioning give it a pharmaceutical rather than purely cosmetic identity.
4. Product-system approach: The brand can cover cleansing, moisturising, and targeted treatment rather than relying on one hero product.
5. Proprietary innovation: Ceradan Advanced gives the company a differentiated technology beyond conventional ceramide moisturisers, particularly through its pH-control technology and associated patents.
6. Singapore origin: The company actively uses its Singapore heritage as part of its international positioning and reputation for quality.

It is important to note that Ceradan should not be confused with a cure for eczema. It is fundamentally a skincare/emollient and barrier-support approach. Eczema and atopic dermatitis are complex inflammatory diseases, and moisturisers can be an important part of management but do not necessarily replace medical treatment when inflammation is significant. Likewise, Ceradan’s clinical and “3:1:1” claims should be understood as claims associated with specific formulations and studies rather than evidence that every Ceradan product is automatically superior to every competing moisturiser. “Ceramide moisturiser,” “barrier repair,” “clinically tested,” and “eczema treatment” are not interchangeable concepts.

The brand’s development can be simplified into four stages:

• 2011 — Foundation: Ceradan launches in Singapore as Hyphens Pharma’s first proprietary brand.7
• 2010s — Barrier-repair franchise: The brand establishes its core identity around ceramide-dominant emollients and the 3:1:1 lipid ratio.
• 2019–2020 — Ceradan Advanced: The company introduces its next-generation pH-control technology and obtains its first patent for Ceradan Advanced in the UK.
• 2020s — International expansion: Ceradan develops into a broader dermatological skincare portfolio and expands beyond Southeast Asia into the Middle East.

Ceradan® is a Singaporean dermatological skincare brand established in 2011 by Hyphens Pharma International Limited. The brand specialises in products for eczema-prone, dry, and sensitive skin, with a particular emphasis on repairing the skin barrier. Its principal technological concept is a 3:1:1 ratio of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids, which Ceradan describes as its ceramide-dominant science. The brand’s portfolio includes moisturising creams, emollients, cleansers, washes, and targeted skincare products.

A major extension of the brand is Ceradan Advanced, introduced in 2019, which combines the brand’s barrier-repair approach with patented pH-control technology intended to maintain a more acidic skin environment and support barrier function.8

Originally established in Singapore, Ceradan has expanded throughout Asia and into the Middle East. The company currently states that the brand is available in 10 countries across Asia and the Middle East, positioning Ceradan as one of Hyphens Pharma’s flagship proprietary dermatology brands.

1. Our Science | Ceradan
2. General Announcement: Hyphens Pharma launches New Ceradan Advanced :: Hyphens Pharma International Limited
3. Ceradan
4. Media Release: Hyphens Pharma’s Ceradan range of products to enter major Middle East markets :: Hyphens Pharma…
5. Buy Ceradan Wash 280ml – DoctorOnCall
6. General Announcement::HYPHENS PHARMA RECEIVES UK PATENT FOR CERADAN ADVANCED
7. About Us – Ceradan Advanced
8. Study Details | NCT02073591 | Correlation Study Between PEST and SCORAD in Management of Atopic Dermatitis With…