Hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring sugar in the skin, eyes and joints, plays a vital role in the moisturisation of these areas of the body. It is a supercharging ingredient that keeps you hydrated and aids in anti-aging. Hyaluronic acid is important in the structural skeleton, renal function, cell signaling and joint lubrication.
Hyaluronic acid is the uptrend ingredient in your skincare regime. Let us understand how well it does the moisturising and wrinkle-plumping functions. Thereby it makes the fine lines and wrinkles in your skin less visible. Hence, your favourite cosmetic companies enhance their products with such synthetically-derived hyaluronic acid products.
Here is what you need to understand on this active ingredient in your skincare routine, including the serums, cleansers, moisturisers, primer, blush, lipstick and more.
What is Hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring polysaccharide, is found in the highest volumes in our body that has moisture retaining capacity in the skin and eyes; it also lubricates the joints. Hyaluronic acid is the only non-sulphated glycosaminoglycan, involves the various structural and biological functions in the human body. Hyaluronic acid is thick, clear as water, and has a gel look consistency. The high viscous property of Hyaluronic acid keeps the tissues lubricated and retains the moisture. Its function ranges from maintaining visco-elasticity in tissues to creating hydration for cells to migrate and proliferate.
The anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperuricaemic effects of hyaluronic acid have been observed in monosodium urate crystal-induced animal models for acute gout arthritis and hyperuricemia. (Source: Eggshell Membrane Ameliorates Hyperuricemia by Increasing Urate Excretion in Potassium Oxonate-Injected Rats. Nutrients 2021, 13, 3323.)
Why do we need to use Hyaluronic acid for your skin and body?
Want to retain your youthful skin - an elastic, smooth and even-toned one? You need to know the hit ingredient Hyaluronic Acid!
Let us learn why you need to use Hyaluronic Acid for your skin and body requirements.
- Hyaluronic acid can bind well with water and penetrate the skin. Its role is crucial in hydrating and improving barrier function, making the skin glowing and supple, also improving permeability. Thereby it gears up the absorption and use of other anti-aging ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, and amino peptides, intensifying their effects.
- Hyaluronic acid is associated with wound healing by controlling inflammation and redirecting the blood flow to damaged tissue.
- Hyaluronic acid levels decrease in people with an increase in age due to such intrinsic aging processes and environmental damage, physical aging signs such as the appearance of wrinkles, dryness, fine lines, wrinkles and skin sagging and other age-related conditions including osteoarthritis are encountered. To keep your body’s Hyaluronic Acid levels up, you can use Hyaluronic Acid products regularly.
- It is produced synthetically by cosmetic and skincare companies. Although Hyaluronic acid is used in cosmetic and medical products, its effects vary among the users using it. It does not sensitize the skin, and it improves skin conditions such as cystic acne and rosacea skin concerns by assisting with healing and repair. It improves the skin in cases of blackheads.
- Hyaluronic acid can be purchased in a pharmacy or by consulting your medical practitioner/doctor for various medical products containing this ingredient.
- The popularity of HA in topical skincare reveals its importance in cosmetic procedures. It has replaced collagen, a widely used ingredient for restoring the youth skin and lost volume. Some of the well-known fillers like Restylane and Juvéderm function like sponges on injecting them in the skin, starting swelling up with water to create a plumper look.
- It maintains skin moisture and accelerates the tissue regeneration process involved in healing wounds.
- It reduces skin roughness and increases skin elasticity.
- It plays a pivotalrole in decreasing the depth of wrinkles and enhancing skin firmness and elasticity.
- It nourishes joints and helps in the growth and development of joint cartilage and bone by boosting up the growth of new cells and tissues. It also aids in reducing inflammation.
- It plays a major role in reducing joint inflammation and pain caused by injury or tissue degeneration.
- It improves eczema ranging from mild to moderate conditions.
Variants of Hyaluronic acid
Other variants of Hyaluronic acid spotted in the list of ingredients in your cream and serums are,
- Glycosaminoglycan
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- Hyaluronan
Top-rated skincare products with Hyaluronic acid
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum - For hydration of sensitive skin.
- CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum - boosted with moisture-retaining ceramides.
- SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier - effective with 1.3 percent concentration of hyaluronic acid
- Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator - a gentle effect on sensitive skin.
In conclusion
The term ‘Hyaluronic acid’ is repeatedly familiarised by beauty journals as one of the popular best anti-aging ingredients in your skincare products. Adding Hyaluronic acid into your daily skincare regimen is a simple and effective way to help improve skin health. Moreover, it has a wide usage for various skin types, whether sensitive or normal. Our skin cells naturally tend to produce Hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture levels. But, due to aging and environmental factors, you need to take a bit of it on your face on a daily basis.
