Hyaluronic Acid In Skin Care

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is widely known for the benefits that it gives to our skin, especially for its hydrating abilities, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and speeding up wound healing caused by pimples and acne. But before we go to our main point, let us first tackle what hyaluronic acid is and its other benefits.

The human body naturally produces this substance called Hyaluronic acid, which is found mostly in the eyes and joints. This substance works by acting as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues. By doing this, it might affect the way our bodies respond to injuries.

It is considered as a ‘moisture magnet’ A better explanation for that is, one gram of hyaluronic acid can hold 1000 weight of water. Dryness can cause saggy and dull skin, hyaluronic acid can prevent that from happening. It is very close to a natural ingredient since it’s already found in your skin.

Applying products with hyaluronic acid will give your skin a boost of moisture and hydration. Hyaluronic acid can be applied topically like in the forms of creams or serums. Dermatologists can also prescribe you injectables in the form of fillers.

How Is It Made?

In present times, it is now made with certain bacteria and then purified to form hyaluronic acid.

Medical Claims

It has been approved to be used in certain eye surgeries including cataract removal, repair of a detached retina, corneal transplantation, and other eye-related injuries. The process is by injecting this acid into the eye during the surgery to help replace the lost natural fluids. Injecting hyaluronic acid into the eye is effective when used during cataract surgery by an eye surgeon. It is also proven by research that eye drops containing hyaluronic acid can prevent or cure any symptoms of dry eyes.

Hyaluronic acid was also approved to be used in the knees for patients who are suffering from knee osteoarthritis. The process is done by injecting hyaluronic acid into the joints, which, in return, can reduce the pain and stiffness in the joints.

Hyaluronic acid can also relieve swelling and sores inside the mouth. This substance is capable of treating mouth sores when applied as a gel or used as a rinse.

Overall it has many benefits, including various joint disorders, urinary tract infections, acid reflux, dry eyes, vaginal pain, ageing, and is also beneficial for our skin.

For The Skin

It is one of the top 3 building blocks of the dermis and highly responsible for ageing. Through time, sun damage and smoking, it will eventually degrade. Hyaluronic acid production decreases as you age. That’s why replenishing the skin with a good amount of hyaluronic acid will rejuvenate and bring back the glow and radiance of your skin.

There have been a lot of talks about substance hyaluronic acid in the skincare industry. Also known as hyaluronate or hyaluronan, it is present in our body that binds water to retain moisture. Chemically, it is a molecule composed mostly of sugars (polysaccharide), which is normally found in tissue, conjunctiva of the body, and in the skin. It keeps tissues hydrated. It is a form of humectant that absorbs moisture from the surrounding and retains the moisture on your skin.

For infants and young individuals, the skin contains a large amount of hyaluronic acid. However, as the personage, the natural production of it in tissues decreases, causing loss of moisture in the skin. The loss of hydration causes the skin to lose its glow and pliability. Ageing signs start to emerge, such as wrinkles, fines lines, sagging of skin when the skin becomes dry.

Skin hydration helps improve skin plumpness, resilience, and elasticity, making it essential in maintaining youthfulness. Hyaluronic acid is commonly used in the skincare industry as it is generally acceptable for most skin types. As the body also produces hyaluronic acid, the skin can adapt to products that contain this ingredient.

Benefits For The Skin

hyaluronic acid

  • It maintains skin elasticity

 Applying doses of hyaluronic acid in creams and ampoules for at least one month has been shown to significantly increase skin moisture and reduce dry skin in adults. Regularly used in creams and ampoules gives the skin firmness and elasticity. It can also hydrate our skin which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, redness, and dermatitis, resulting in smoother skin.

Because it is a humectant that attracts water, it can re-hydrate the skin without making it oily. Other moisturizers are too heavy or can cause acne for oily skin, but unlike them, hyaluronic acid can moisturize oily skin without the fear of having acne after using.

  • It reduces the effects of ageing

 More than half of hyaluronic acid in our body is present in our skin, and it helps our body retain moisture. It binds to the fluid in our body which is why it makes our skin look hydrated and moist. But due to the body’s natural ageing process and our exposure to free radicals such as smoke coming from cars, tobacco and factories, pollution, and ultraviolet radiation from the sun, can lessen the production of hyaluronic acid in our body which may give your skin that dry and flaky look.

Applying hyaluronic acid creams and ampoules can prevent this from happening. Free radicals and harmful UV rays can lessen the body’s natural production of hyaluronic acid. By injectibles or applying creams, it can give our body extra amounts that can incorporate into the skin. In return, it keeps the skin firm and is effective in plumping up wrinkles and preventing the effects of ageing. It helps in moisturizing, delaying skin thinning, itching, and the overall ageing process.

  • It prevents skin dryness

Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by our body to hydrate our skin. It gives the skin a soothing look by giving the skin moisture. If you have dry skin, it is highly recommended for you to use a cream with hyaluronic acid rather than a serum. Since creams will cater to your needs, giving you enough moisture and hydration.

  • It protects against free radicals

Free radicals such as smoke, pollution, dust, along with the harmful UV rays caused by the sun are the things that we cannot avoid. That is why antioxidants such as hyaluronic acid exist to protect our skin from it. In this case, free radicals and harmful UV rays can affect the natural production of hyaluronic acid of our body, making our bodies look pale and dry. Taking hyaluronic supplements can protect our skin from free radicals and at the same time, add an amount of hyaluronic acid to our body, which can moisturize and hydrate our skin. It acts as an antioxidant that has the role of protecting the skin against the harmful effects of free radicals.

  • Heal wound caused by pimples or acne

Hyaluronic acid also plays a key role in wound healing. The use of this substance is divided when there is damage that needs repair. It helps wounds heal faster by regulating inflammation levels and signalling the body to build more blood vessels in the damaged area. It can reduce the size of the acne wounds when you apply it to the area, and it can also decrease the pain. Hyaluronic acid can also prevent an infection from acne wounds through having an antibacterial property.

The Downside of Hyaluronic Acid

Much has been said about its magical benefits; however, it has its downside too. Although it binds water to retain moisture, it is crucial to realize that it does not generate water on its own. Instead, it is a humectant that pulls in water from the environment to retain hydration for the skin.

Thus, the usage of skin care products with hyaluronic acid for hydration depends on the environment. If the weather is dry or humid, applying it will tend to draw moisture from your skin, causing your skin to be reversely dry. So instead of it hydrating your skin, it sucks up all the moisture because it can’t get moisture from the external environment.

It usually comes in large molecule sizes. Thus, it is not able to penetrate the deeper levels of the skin. It hydrates the skin surface level only. It also tends to be temporal as it does not hydrate the inner levels of the skin.

Some Remedies To Higher Penetration 

To solve the low penetration into the deeper skin level, there are some forms of remedies to it. Look for hyaluronic acids with multiple molecular weights.

The beauty industry has come up with hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid. Also known as multi-molecular hyaluronic acid, it has different smaller molecular weights that can penetrate the epidermis level helping the skin to obtain hydration at all levels.

High molecular weight hyaluronic acid penetrates the superficial layer of the skin, low molecular weight sinks deeper into the epidermis. You want both high and low to penetrate both on the top and deeper layer of your skin.

The injective filler procedure where the skin is injected with hyaluronic acid and it penetrates directly into the inner levels to deeply moisturize the skin. The effect of injective filler for hydration and anti-aging treatment is more lasting than using hyaluronic products per se. Nevertheless, a doctor or dermatologist’s advice is needed before treatment can be performed.

Your body has natural enzymes that break down the hyaluronic acid. Even if it’s an expensive cream or serum, it only stays on your skin at a maximum 24-36 hours. With injectables, it can penetrate deeper into the hypodermis. You will see more pleasing results that way.

The active ingredient of hyaluronic acid helps with the texture, tone and volume of the skin. With this alone, you don’t really need to go and get a laser. It should be enough to help your skin rejuvenate.

Hyaluronic acid oral supplements are not effective. Your digestive enzymes are strong enough to break down the hyaluronic acid and eventually would go down directly to the toilet.

Incorporate it in your morning routine as a 3rd step. This will go well just before you apply a moisturizer since it’s a humectant after all. It can also increase the penetration of actives, such as retinol, vitamin c, vitamin b, niacinamide. Acts as a carrier for these active ingredients and transport them into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hyaluronic acid is also revered in Korean skin care. You can find brands with a variety of products using this ingredient. If you want to have glowy, healthy-looking skin, try using some of the products that contain this super powerful ingredient.

Korean Products With Hyaluronic Acid :

Wellage Hyaluronic One Day Kit

Contains 90.95% hyaluronic acid, the Wellage Hyaluronic One Day Kit is made with freeze-drying technique for triple firming, hydration, and texture improvement.

Cosrx Hyaluronic Hydra Intensive Cream

Filled with moisture-retention ingredients such as Hippophae Rhamnoides Water (a.k.a vitamin tree), Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream suppresses moisture loss. It is light and supplies suppleness to flaky face.

Secret Key Hyaluron Aqua Soft Cream

Secret Key Hyaluron Aqua Soft Cream moisturizes whitens and improves wrinkle problem as well as supplies vitamin and collagen to the skin.