Acetyl Glucosamine

Acetyl glucosamine is an amino acid sugar, the primary constituent of substances called mucopolysaccharides and hyaluronic acid that are found in all parts of the skin. It has value as a natural moisturizing factor (a natural component of the skin's composition), and is effective (in large concentrations) for wound healing. There is research showing that chitins (also known as chitosan—which is comprised of acetyl glucosamine), can help in the complex process of wound healing (source: Cellular-Molecular-Life-Science, February 1997, pages 131–140). As impressive as that sounds, the tiny amount of acetyl glucosamine found in some skin-care products is several orders of magnitude less than the amount of acetyl glucosamine used to heal wounds. Further, it is important to understand that none of this relates to wrinkles. Wrinkles are not wounds. Something that may help heal a tear in skin is not going to change a wrinkle.