What Is Hyaluronic Acid?

Is your skin parched?

Then listen to this. Let me introduce you to an important figure in the skincare world- Hyaluronic acid HA. Before I harp on about the benefits of Hyaluronic acid, you need to know about this magic ingredient that can hydrate your skin and rejuvenate your moisture barrier to give you that dewy look.

A skincare routine is only as good as what’s in the products you use. Hyaluronic acid, is one of those ingredients you don’t want to miss out on. If you already own a product with hyaluronic acid in it, then you might be wondering when to use a hyaluronic acid serum?

What does hyaluronic acid do? I’m going to take you through why you need hyaluronic acid in your life. From finding the best hyaluronic acid serum containing hyaluronic acid on your face to the benefits of hyaluronic acid applying it correctly, you can reap the benefits of this amazing ingredient.

So here’s the deal.

If you want to know the ins and outs of what is hyaluronic acid, then you’ve come to the right place. Hyaluronic acid is ideal if you want plump skin, a dewy glow, and hydrated skin that doesn’t dry out. It’s one of those ingredients that everyone should use no matter your skin type.

A word of advice, if you have acne, using hyaluronic acid can be very useful at restoring your skin’s moisture, especially when using harsh acne treatments. You might be wondering what does hyaluronic acid do for acne?

Ready for the good part?

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Now, I don’t know about you but if you’ve never heard of HA before, you might get a bit jumpy at the word “acid”.

This could not be further from the truth when it comes to hyaluronic acid. Rather, it’s a sugar that is found naturally in a mild form in our skin and even eye drops. HA’s superpower is that it can hold a thousand times its weight in water, helping your skin to retain water.

What does this do for your skin? Think of it as a big drink of water for your skin. It will not only retain moisture in your skin but stop it from evaporating. Yep, that means hyaluronic acid helps hydrated skin stay hydrated all day long. It’s a gamechanger for dry skin types.

If it’s naturally occurring in the body, you might be wondering why we need to take it. Just like collagen or elastin, as we get older the amount of hyaluronic acid decreases. Of course, eating a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables can help your body to regain some of those antioxidants that protect the skin and help you retain some of that hyaluronic acid.

A Powerful Humectant

HA in skincare products like creams and serums can be very good at restoring moisture back into the skin. Hyaluronic Acid can naturally hold a lot of water, so it’s perfect as a humectant in your skincare routine. A humectant is what allows your skin to stay moisturized all day long.

Hyualirpmoc acid is widely found in products such as moisturizers, eye creams, and serums. These will help to firm the skin around the eye area, increase moisture and reduce puffiness or swelling. It can also help to soften fine lines. HA penetrates the layers of the skin easily, which is why the best way to get the most of it is from a serum or a product that is applied topically rather than taking hyaluronic acid supplements.

You might be surprised to find that if you check the ingredients list on your skincare products, there will likely be some hyaluronic acid somewhere. If youre using it in a topical product, it can really make a difference and give you dewy-looking skin and improved skin elasticity.

Hyaluronic acid is very strong and will pull moisture to the surface of the skin so you probably won’t need to use it more than once a day in your skin care routine.

The good part is that you can mix hyaluronic acid with pretty much any other skincare ingredients or products. HA works well with harsher products like chemical peels, retinol, exfoliating acids as well as vitamins. Just be careful that when paired with acids that have low pH, such as glycolic acid, it can degrade the HA and make it useless.

Picking the right formula is key

It’s not easy to select the right product containing hyaluronic acid. Sometimes the HA molecule can be too large to really penetrate the skin’s surface and provide deeper hydration. The most effective serums are the ones where the HA molecules have been micronized or are paired with an ingredient that can penetrate the skin. This is where you’ll see HA making a big difference on your skin, rather than just applying it to the surface.

HA needs water

Not using HA correctly can cause issues such as dehydration, the exact opposite of what you want. The number one mistake people do when using HA? Not adding water! HA needs water in order to plump the skin, without it HA will pull water from the inside of your skin. This can leave your skin feeling dry with no long lasting hydration, since the deeper layers of skin have been parched of water.

If you want to avoid this, my tip would be to apply the HA serum to damp skin, and spray it with water after application. You can then top it off with a moisturizing cream to lock in the moisture.

Who is HA for?

Hyalruonic acid is very good on all skin types, as it is non irritating and will not trigger breakouts or acne. Many people with sensitive skin or conditions like rosacea, or eczema can use it safely too. It’s highly unlikely to produce any side effects, so it’s a safe one to have. On a side note, if you do have any side effects, it’s worth checking which other ingredients are on that list as it is likely there is another culprit.

Hyaluronic acid serums can be used by everyone, regardless of their skin type. It’s lightweight and oil-free, making it ideal for oily skin types or acne-prone skin. It is often paired with other nourishing ingredients like green tea or antioxidants which can contribute to improving skin again and maintaining skin hydration all day.

Mature skin types can benefit a lot from hyaluronic acid. As we age, we tend to lose some of those key ingredients in our skin, including HA. Since our bodies make less of it, by using a HA serum and applying it topically it can make a huge impact in smoothing fine lines and giving you that glowing complexion.

 

What About HA injections?

Many injectable Hyaluronic Acid products use a gel form of HA to create volume on top of the dermal layer of your skin. This is a popular treatment for those who have mature skin or sunken areas and fine lines. HA is injected into the skin and used to plump these sunken areas to smooth fine lines and remove shadows.

Over time the effect slowly dissolves, usually lasting about a year. Hyaluronic Acid fillers work by encapsulating HA in a gel carrier that holds it in a place where you inject it. This makes volume since it draws water to that area, acting just like a filler. Bear in mind this procedure is mostly for aesthetics, to fill out your face in a more natural way.

What about side effects I hear you asking? Well, you’ll be happy to know they are minimal, with some people experiencing swelling and bruising for the first couple of days. Of course, going to a board certified dermatologist is essential for any kind of filler procedure. Someone who is untrained with a needle can end up injecting either not deep enough or pricking a blood vessel. You can also grab an aspirin or ibuprofen about a week before the treatment to minimize the chances of bruising. Also, arnica or bromelain can help treat swelling and bruising that you experience post filler. The biggest risk is injecting a blood vessel, which can cause scabbing or scarring, so be sure to get someone qualified.

These HA fillers are generally safe for everyone since HA is naturally already found in our bodies. It can be likened to a liquid nose job or fillers used to cushion heels and improve the padding on your feet.

If you’re thinking about getting HA injectables…

If improving the appearance of sunken and sagging face as well as wrinkles and fine lines, then it might be for you.

The only FDA approved hyaluronic acid fillers are these:

Belotero, Juvéderm, Juvéderm Voluma, Juvéderm Volbella, Juvéderm Ultra, and Juvéderm Vollure, Restylane, Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, Restylane Defyne, Restylane Kysse,

You can use HA fillers to treat nasolabial folds, marionette lines, cheek augmentation, chin augmentation, under eyes and lips as well as dorsal hands. It’s a safer way of improving your facial features using something that is naturally found in the body.

HA fillers are reversible

HA injections arent permanent. Hyaluronic acid fillers are reversible, meaning you can change your mind if it’s not for you. It always means that if the injections were done badly, or have blocked a blood vessel, your dermatologist can dissolve the filler right away using the enzyme hyaluronidase.

Within 24 to 48 hours, the HA filler has completely dissolved under the enzyme. Just as a side note, if you have an allergy to bee stings, check with a healthcare provider as academic research institutions show that the enzyme hyaluronidase is also found in bee venom.

Who are hyaluronic acid fillers for?

HA fillers are for pretty much everyone who wants to improve the appearance of their face with filler. However, those who are pregnant are not advised to take it. Dermatologists can provide medical advice but will usually advise against injecting pregnant women due to the lack of clinical evaluation around its effects in pregnancy. Its also suggested avoiding getting fillers if you have an active infection in your skin. It’s best to first treat the infection and then continue with your appointment for getting fillers.

Final Thoughts

Hyaluronic acid plays a strong role in getting moisturized skin. With minimal allergic reactions, a hyaluronic acid cream can prevent skin aging, increase skin moisture, help wound healing and even acid reflux, pain relief such as joint pain, and muscle protection combined with skin wounds.

Applying hyaluronic acid product rather than oral supplements can be much more beneficial as it penetrates deeper skin layers, smoothing away skin roughness. This key molecule occurs naturally in the body, and can hold its molecular weight in water, retaining moisture. Since it is naturally present, adverse effects are rare and it can treat symptoms of acid suppression or non-erosive reflux disease and even offer mucosal protection combined with gum disease.

HA has a multitude of benefits, and since it can hold its molecular weight in water molecules, it is even found in eye drops and skincare such as sheet masks. Whether you want to reduce pain or reduce wrinkles, a systematic review of HA is in order. Taking supplements can improve symptoms on the inside, while in skincare it can work wonders.

Have you tried Hyaluronic acid before?