Cosmetics Ingredient Dictionary

acetyl glucosamine. Amino acid sugar and primary constituent of mucopolysaccharides and hyaluronic acid that has good water-binding properties for skin. In large concentrations it can be effective for wound healing. There is research showing that chitosan (which is composed of acetyl glucosamine) can help wound healing in a complex physiological process (Sources: Cellular-Molecular-Life-Science, February 1997, pages 131–140; and Biomaterials, June 2001, pages 1667–1673). However, the amount used in those studies was significantly greater than the amount used in cosmetics. In terms of exfoliation, the research that does exist was done by Proctor & Gamble (Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, February 2007, Supplement 2, page AB169). Further, there is no research demonstrating that wrinkles are related to wounds.