Skin-care products are only as good as their ingredients. 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 maintain a normal level of hydration while producing collagen and avoiding cellular damage.

Most companies use harmful ingredients instead of using natural ingredients. Examples of some organic skin care ingredients are: rose hip oil, squalene and other olive oil by-products, and hyaluronic acid, a glycosaminoglycan found in the intercellular matrix of the skin where it has a defensive preserving structure and shock-minimizing role. It also plays a crucial role in tissue hydration, lubrication and cellular activity, and is able of holding more water than any other biological substance.

Proteoglycans and Glycosaminoglycans - Active Controllers of Cellular Function

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

Proteoglycans are complex macromolecules formed by a core protein and one or more covalently attached glycosaminoglycan chain. The biological actions of proteoglycans results primarily from the structurally dominant glycosaminoglycans emanating from the protein nucleus of the molecule.

Glycosaminoglycans modulate the activity of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling which is decisive in a wide range of important biological activities with several effects in various cell types. They influence 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 membrane, with the primary result of activating cellular proliferation and/or differentiation. Various growth factors are quite adaptable, promoting cellular division in different cell types; while others are specific to a particular cell-type. There are at least 21 different members of the FGF group of growth factors.

Fibroblast growth factors act specifically on several kinds of epithelial cells like keratinocytes of the skin, intestinal epithelial cells and hepatocytes. In addition, some kinds of Fibroblast Growth Factor have been shown to be more than growth factors: they can protect epithelial cells from negative alterations produced, for example, by radiation and oxidative stress.

The primary task of fibroblasts is to maintain the structural stability of connective tissue by constantly secreting precursors of the extracellular structures. Fibroblasts and the glycoconjugates aforementioned are critical in wound repair. The vital process is interactive and depends on appropriate regulation of fibroblasts. These structural elements comprise collagen and elastin connective tissues and glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. With no adequate regulation of fibroblast activity, excessive scarring results and is a characteristic of impaired healing (keloid and hypertrophic scars). This impairment is a serious health problem 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 have the capacity to 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 usually found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrate and invertebrate tissues. An important number of animal species contain GAGs while mollusks are an extraordinarily rich source of these polysaccharides. Furthermore, a structural investigation revealed that in invertebrate species GAGs frequently contain atypical variations of sulfate distribution and uronic acids.

A biological skin care cream that recovers 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 employ to protect and repair the collagen and elastin in their skin when injured and is packed with GAGs. It is a substance rich with glycoconjugates that improves the skin's capacity to synthesize collagen, elastin plus glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. These elements are permanently present in the dermis and have a large water holding ability -true moisturizing- and thus provide support and skin resistance, helping skin that is about to be stretched withstand tension and compression effects without tearing. It also helps to firm the skin and elude sagging and wrinkles.