Chitosan

Chitosan is a film-forming, animal-derived polysaccharide that comes from the shells of shrimp, crabs, and other similar crustaceans. The building blocks of chitosan are molecules of glucosamine, which is an amino sugar found naturally in the skin, cartilage, and joints.

Chitosan is a very special ingredient with a variety of uses. It forms a very strong film on the surface of the skin and mucosa (this is because of its chemical properties – chitosan is positively charged and easily adheres to cell membranes, which are usually negatively charged). This property is used to assist in the wound healing process, where the chitosan film protects the wound, stops the bleeding, and allows the tissue to heal.

The film-forming properties of chitosan are starting to get utilized in skincare as well. For example, chitosan-based face masks have been created, where the chitosan polymer acts as an excellent base material for active compounds (with the added benefit of being biodegradable).