Do you know what the 'extracellular matrix' is? You may think that it came out of a science fiction movie, wouldn't you? What about collagen? Elastin? Laminin? Chances are, you may have seen them on bottles of shower gel or skin lotion. If you are concerned about aging skin, it is a good idea to understand how your skin works and how we can help it be even more efficient.

All animal tissues have a 'matrix', which their cells are immersed in. This serves lots of 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. Inside this matrix we have several 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 in all of nature, is collagen. Since collagen is so strong, it strengthens our skin and gives it durability. Coincidentally, it is also the most abundant protein in our body. Another key 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. There are also two different substances which help our skin stay moist and fresh. These are called glycosoaminoglycans (or GAGs for short) and proteoglycans. These substances are very similar to the consistency of mucus, and they are important because they hold water in your skin.

As long as all of these components are working the way they should in the skin, our skin will remain youthful-looking and radiant. Remember that all the substances in the extracellular matrix are essential for our skin to stay structured and moist. However, the problem comes in when, due to too much sun exposure, aging, or contaminants in the environment, the body doesn't make as many of these proteins as quickly anymore, thus weakening the extracellular matrix. The development of collagen and elastin and moisture holding molecules is naturally diminished as people get older. The cells get worn out, and since the body isn't making as many, our skin starts to lose the fresh, radiant complexion it used to have.

Helping your Skin Help Itself

As I had talked about earlier, 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. Try to give up smoking if you haven't already done so, and always wear sun block. And of course, by now you are probably familiar with the amazing new developments by scientific experts into the unbelievable properties of biological ingredients found in nature when applied topically to these affected areas. In case you weren't aware, people are quickly buying these skin care products because these natural ingredients (such as the secretions that snails produce to protect themselves) have been found to increase the production of new collagen and elastin in the extracellular matrix. If you haven't been able to try any of these natural products yet, 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 deteriorated skin before it's too late!