Most products on the market today that are used to treat skin problems target the effects of the disease or wound such as inflammation, which can prolong the healing process and result in scarring.

Water loss occurs during many skin disorders, resulting in an increase in extracellular sodium concentration. Researchers discovered a new way to prevent inflammation and to speed up the skin's healing process. After five years of research, they identified the gene regulation pathway, which involves the body's sodium sensor called Nax (scn7a) that triggers inflammation.

Na_x, which is present in multiple epithelial tissues and up-regulated in scars, increases sodium flux and induces the downstream production of mediators of epithelial cell proliferation and inflammation that may lead to scar formation.

Indeed, blocking Na_x in animal models decreases scarring and atopic dermatitis–like symptoms, suggesting that Na_x may contribute to epithelial homeostasis.

They also found a way to block it using a nanoparticle-carried small interference RNA, which enables the skin to heal faster.

http://www.lsu.edu/mediacenter/news/2015/11/04xu_skin.as.php