GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS
From a bio-chemical perspective, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) carbohydrates, which, along with
elastin and collagen fibres belong to the main components of the extracellular matrix – the part of the tissue, which lies between the cells and surrounds them like a mesh. GAG are found particularly in the skin and in connective and cartilage tissue, and they act as inter-cellular binding substances. A well-known type of GAG is hyaluronic acid.
BENEFITS FOR SKIN AND HAIR
The skin’s hydration depends largely on the amount and distribution of GAG, since this absorbs more than 1,000 times its own volume of water, and thus, it can significantly improve the elasticity and volume of the skin. Together with proteoglycans, GAG constitute the main components of the connective matrix and play an important role in cellular activity and wound healing. Additionally, GAG is necessary for healthy, strong eyelashes and eyebrows, since the extra-cellular matrix plays a central role in all three phases of the life-cycle of the small hairs and this includes regulating the growth and loss.