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

Most companies incorporate harmful ingredients instead of using more gentle ingredients that come from Nature. Examples of some organic 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 protective stabilizing structure and shock-minimizing role. It also plays an important role in tissue hydration, lubrication and cellular function, and is capable of holding more water than any other natural substance.

Glycosaminoglycans and Proteoglycans - Permanent Regulators of Cell Function

These celullar elements participate in cell-matrix interactions and play an important biological role in fibroblasts production, differentiation and migration by efficiently modulating the cellular phenotype.

Proteoglycans are complex macromolecules consisting of a core protein and one or more covalently linked glycosaminoglycan chain. The biological functions of proteoglycans results mainly from the structurally prevalent glycosaminoglycans emanating from the protein core of the molecule.

Glycosaminoglycans modulate the effect of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling which is crucial in a wide range of substantial biological activities with several 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 cell surface, with the primary result of promoting cellular multiplication and/or differentiation. Various growth factors are quite versatile, promoting cellular division in different cell types; while others are specific 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 various types of epithelial cells including keratinocytes of the skin, intestinal epithelial cells and hepatocytes. In addition, some types of Fibroblast Growth Factor have been shown to be more than growth factors: they can protect epithelial cells from negative alterations induced, for example, by radiation and oxidative stress.

The primary task of fibroblasts is to keep the structural stability of connective tissue by continuously secreting precursors of the extracellular matrix. Fibroblasts and the glycoconjugates aforementioned are crucial in wound repair. The vital process is interactive and depends on proper regulation of fibroblasts. These constitutive elements include collagen and elastin connective tissues and glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. Without proper regulation of fibroblast activity, exaggerated scarring results and is a feature 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 poor.

Tissue damage stimulates fibrocytes and induces migration and proliferation of fibroblasts in various stages of tissue repair including wound contraction. Fibroblasts can originate other cells, such as bone cells, fat cells, and smooth muscle cells. All those are cells of mesodermal derivation, corresponding to a layer from which the organs and tissues of the body form through further differentiation.

GAGs are commonly found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrate and invertebrate tissues. An important number of animal species contain GAGs while mollusks are an extraordinarily good source of these polysaccharides. Furthermore, a detailed investigation demonstrated that in invertebrate species GAGs frequently contain atypical fluctuations of sulfate distribution and uronic acids.

A natural skin care product that restores skin moisture and is made with secretions from snails of the species known as Helix Aspersa Muller helps heal skin conditions. The secretion is the same these little creatures use to protect and repair the collagen and elastin in their skin when damaged and is packed with GAGs. It is an ingredient rich with glycoconjugates that enhances the skin's capacity to synthesize collagen, elastin plus glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. These elements are permanently present in the dermis and have an important water holding capacity -true moisturizing- and thus confer 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 elude sagging and wrinkles.