Do you have any idea what the 'extracellular matrix' is? Does that sound like something you'd see on the sci fi channel? What about collagen? Elastin? Laminin? Do you know anything about these things besides the fact that they are found in some shower gels? If you are aprehensive about wrinkles, it is a good idea to know how your skin works and how we can help it be more efficient.

All animal tissues have a 'matrix', which their cells are immersed in. This has various important functions. These include healing our wounds, making sure our skin has structure, and facilitating the growth of new cells. This important substance is called the extracellular matrix. In this matrix we have many different components that help our skin to keep itself flexible, soft and fresh. Some of these help maintain its durability, and others help it stay moist. One of these substances, and one of the strongest proteins in nature is collagen. Since collagen is so strong, it helps to give structure and strength to our skin. As a side note, it is also the most abundant protein in our body. Another main protein chain is elastin. Elastin is a more flexible protein (not as strong as collagen) that helps our skin stretch, move, and then regain its original shape again. Besides collagen and elastin, there are also substances in the body that help keep our skin moist and soft. These are called glycosoaminoglycans (or GAGs for short) and proteoglycans. These substances are similar to the consistency of mucus, and they are beneficial because they hold water in the skin.

As long as all of these components are working properly in our skin, our skin will remain youthful-looking and radiant. If you remember, all the substances that are inside the extracellular matrix are needed for our skin to keep its structure and stay moisturized. However, the problem comes in when, due to aging, environmental contamination or too much exposure to the sun, the body slows down its production of these proteins, thus diminishing the extracellular matrix. The production of collagen and elastin and moisture holding molecules is naturally reduced as people age. The cells get worn out, and since the body isn't producing as many new ones, our skin starts to look dry, saggy, and old.

How to Heal your Skin

As I mentioned, one of the major causes of this deterioration of the extracellular matrix is environmental contamination and exposure to UV rays so take care to stay out of the sun as much as possible. Quit smoking if you haven't already done so, and don't forget to wear sun block whenever you go out. And of course, by now you have more than likely heard about the amazing new developments by researchers into the healing properties of biological ingredients found in nature when applied to these affected areas. In case you haven't heard, people are in a frenzy buying these skin care products because these natural ingredients (such as mucous that garden snails secrete) have been found to enhance the production of new collagen and elastin within the extracellular matrix. If you still haven't tried one of these natural products, make sure you find some and try them out also, because if you apply them daily, and you protect yourself when you are outside, surely you will be able to aid damaged skin before it's too late!