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Do you understand what the 'extracellular matrix' is? Does that sound like something you'd see on the sci fi channel? What about collagen? Elastin? Laminin? What do you know about these things besides remembering seeing them on bottles of shower gel and moisturizer? If you are aprehensive about aging skin, it is a great idea to know how your skin works and how we can help it work even better.

All animal tissues have a 'matrix', which their cells are immersed in. This serves 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 various different components that help our skin to keep itself flexible, soft and fresh. The function of some of these components is to maintain the strength or durability of the skin, and others to keep it moisturized. One of the substances found here, and one of the strongest proteins found in nature, is collagen. Since collagen is so strong, it helps to give structure and strength to our skin. Coincidentally, it is also the most abundant protein in our body. Another significant 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. The body also has two different substances that help moisturize our skin and keep it soft. These are glycosoaminoglycans (or GAGs for short) and proteoglycans. These substances are a lot like the texture of mucus, and they are beneficial because they keep moisture in our skin.

As long as all of these components are working they way there were designed to in our skin, our skin will remain youthful-looking and radiant. Remember that all the substances in the extracellular matrix are necessary for our skin to stay structured and moist. However, the problem starts when, due to aging, environmental contamination or too much exposure to the sun, the body stops developing as many of these proteins, thus diminishing the extracellular matrix. The production of collagen and elastin and moisture holding molecules is naturally dimished as people age. The cells get worn out, and since the body isn't making as many, our skin begins to sag, look older, and dry out.

How to Heal your Skin

As I had said, one of the major causes of this deterioration of the extracellular matrix is pollution and sun exposure, so be careful when you are outside in peak hours of he day. Quit smoking if you haven't already done so, and always wear sun block. And of course, by now you have more than likely heard about the wonderful new developments by researchers into the incredible properties of biological ingredients found in nature when applied to these affected areas. If you're one of the few people who is not familiar with this, people are hurrying to buy these skin care products because these natural ingredients (such as the mucous that snails produce) have been found to enhance the production of new collagen and elastin inside the extracellular matrix. If you still haven't tried one of these natural products, make sure you get your hands on some of them also, because if you apply them daily, and you protect yourself when you are outside, surely you will be able to aid tarnished skin before it's too late!