Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are the body’s natural moisturisers. They are hydrophilic molecules that help to draw water into your skin and keep your skin hydrated. By holding moisture within our skin cells, they help to maintain your skin’s structural integrity by providing volume, elasticity and firmness. While a lot of focus is placed on the production of the collagen and elastin, it is actually the role of the GAG’s that plays an equally important role in preventing wrinkles. Decreased dermal glycosaminoglycans are thought to contribute to dry skin, wrinkles and atrophy. In skin care products, they are essential to the epidermal and dermal cells metabolism and help to rebuild and repair collagen in the skin.
Often many of our clients are using cosmetic products that will only work on moisturising the uppermost layers of your skin, providing only temporary relief from dry/dehydrated skin. It is important to work on your skins natural moisturising factors at a deeper level. To do this you need to improve your GAG levels with cosmeceutical products. Two topical ingredients that will improve the GAG content in your skin are alpha hydroxy acids and hyaluronic acid. Speak to us about which products will help to improve your GAG content!
