Skin-care solutions are only as good as their components. In fact, moisturizers or for that matter any skin-care product claiming to have an effect on SKIN REPAIR should contain a mix of antioxidants, cell-communicating ingredients, and intercellular substances. These ingredients are responsible for helping the skin to maintain a normal level of hydration while producing collagen and preventing cellular damage.

Most products use chemicals that harm your skin instead of using natural ingredients. Examples of some biological skin care ingredients are: rose hip oil, squalene and other olive oil derivatives, and hyaluronic acid, a glycosaminoglycan present in the intercellular matrix of the skin where it has a defensive stabilizing structure and shock-absorbing role. It also plays a crucial role in tissue hydration, lubrication and cellular activity, and is able of holding more water than any other natural substance.

Proteoglycans and Glycosaminoglycans - Active Controllers of Cell Activities

These celullar elements collaborate in cell-matrix interactions and play a crucial natural role in fibroblasts production, specialization and migration by efficiently adjusting the cellular phenotype.

Proteoglycans are intricate macromolecules consisting of a central protein and one or more covalently attached glycosaminoglycan chain. The natural functions of proteoglycans results mainly from the structurally dominant glycosaminoglycans emanating from the protein nucleus of the molecule.

Glycosaminoglycans regulate the effect of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling which is crucial in a wide range of substantial organic activities with differential effects in various cell types. They affect FGF signaling by communicating with both the growth factor and the FGF receptor.

Fibroblast Growth Factors are polypeptides (proteins) that bind to receptors on the cellular surface, with the primary result of promoting cellular multiplication and/or specialization. Many growth factors are quite versatile, promoting cellular division in different cell types; while others are limited to a single cell-type. There are at least 21 different members of the FGF group of growth factors.

Fibroblast growth factors work specifically on several kinds of epithelial cells including keratinocytes of the skin, intestinal epithelial cells and hepatocytes. In addition, some kinds of Fibroblast Growth Factor have been demonstrated to be more than growth factors: they can protect epithelial cells from damaging effects induced, for example, by radiation and oxidative stress.

The main task of fibroblasts is to maintain the structural integrity of connective tissue by constantly secreting precursors of the extracellular matrix. Fibroblasts and the glycoconjugates mentioned are crucial in wound healing. The dynamic process is interactive and depends on proper administration of fibroblasts. These structural elements comprise collagen and elastin connective tissues and glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. Without adequate regulation of fibroblast activity, excessive scarring results and is a characteristic of aberrant healing (keloid and hypertrophic scars). This impairment is an important health condition that most of the time affects a person's quality of life due to the fact that treatment costs are high and the results are often unsatisfactory.

Tissue damage triggers fibrocytes and induces migration and proliferation of fibroblasts in multiple stages of tissue repair including wound contraction. Fibroblasts can give rise to other cells, such as bone cells, fat cells, and smooth muscle cells. All those are cells of mesodermal origin, corresponding to a layer from which the organs and tissues of the body develop through further specialization.

GAGs are usually found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrate and invertebrate tissues. A large number of animal species contain GAGs while mollusks are an extraordinarily rich source of these polysaccharides. Furthermore, a detailed investigation demonstrated that in invertebrate species GAGs often contain unusual variations of sulfate distribution and uronic acids.

A natural skin care product that restores skin moisture and is elaborated with secretions from snails of the species known as Helix Aspersa Muller helps heal skin conditions. The secretion is the same these humble creatures use to protect and restore the collagen and elastin in their skin when injured and is loaded with GAGs. It is a substance rich with glycoconjugates that improves the skin's capacity to produce collagen, elastin plus glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. These elements are always present in the dermis and have an important water holding capacity -true moisturizing- and thus provide support and skin strength, helping skin that is about to be stretched endure tension and compression forces without tearing. It also helps to firm the skin and avoid sagging and wrinkles.