Hyaluronic acid facts

Hyaluronic acid is well known for its skin benefits, especially alleviating dry skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and speeding up wound healing.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a sugar found naturally in our skin that holds water and helps keep it hydrated and plump.

Hyaluronic acid supplements can help your skin look and feel more supple.

As we age, we lose collagen and hyaluronic acid naturally, so the skin becomes dehydrated more easily.

Also, harsh weather, heaters during the wintertime, certain skin-care products, and underlying skin conditions can cause tiny breaks in the protective skin barrier, allowing water to escape. That's why creating a tailored skin-care regimen with moisturizing products can be extra beneficial.

Roughly half of the hyaluronic acid in your body is present in your skin, where it binds to water to help retain moisture.

However, the natural aging process and exposure to things like ultraviolet radiation from the sun, tobacco smoke and pollution can decrease its amounts in the skin.

Hydrated skin also reduces the appearance of wrinkles.

Hyaluronic acid also plays a key role in wound healing.

It’s naturally present in the skin, but its concentrations increase when there is damage in need of repair.

Hyaluronic acid helps wounds heal faster by regulating inflammation levels and signaling the body to build more blood vessels in the damaged area.

Hyaluronic acid is also found in the joints, where it keeps the space between your bones well lubricated
When the joints are lubricated, the bones are less likely to grind against each other and cause uncomfortable pain.

Hyaluronic acid supplements are very helpful for people suffering from osteoarthritis, a type of degenerative joint disease caused by wear and tear on the joints over time.

Since hyaluronic acid is excellent at retaining moisture, it’s often used to treat dry eye.

Eye drops containing 0.2–0.4% hyaluronic acid have been shown to reduce dry eye symptoms and improve eye health

Hyaluronic acid also has many medical and commercial uses. It is available in a variety of forms, including:

dietary supplements
face creams
serums
eye drops
injections


Ideally, our bodies could produce enough HA to keep things healthy and self-regulating, but there are a variety of external factors which often deplete our stores. The natural aging process, exposure to UVA and UVB rays, and the topical application of harsh chemicals and acids all contribute to low levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin.

Often, skin lacking hyaluronic acid will manifest as combination skin. That is, skin which experiences acne in some areas (the T zone, the chin), and dryness in other areas (usually on the cheeks and around the eyes).

For some combination skin sufferers, blemishes are a result of lipid overproduction. But for those suffering with low HA levels, blemishes can actually be the result of a buildup of dead skin cells which can lead to blocked pores. Without adequate hydration, skin cells are unable to move through the cycle of dead skin cell removal. This results in clogged hair follicles, in which dead skin cells mingle with cosmetics, dirt, and bacteria, causing chronic breakouts.