Many people spend hours using harmful beauty products for keeping their skin looking fresh. The hyaluronic acid (HA) can keep your skin glowing and also benefits your joints without causing harmful side effects.
Hyaluronic acid is also known as hyaluronan and is often recommended by dermatologists and physicians. It greatly benefits skin texture and reduces joint pain and other symptoms related to ageing.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a lubricating, clear substance that is produced by the body naturally. The hyaluronic acid is found in large concentration in the skin, inside joints, within eye sockets, and other tissues, where it retains collagen, increases moisture, and provides elasticity.
Today, HA is included in several anti-ageing beauty and healthcare products, like lotions, serums, creams, and supplements. Your dermatologist may also offer HA in the form of an injection.
When applied topically, hyaluronic acid cannot be absorbed. Because it is a much lower molecular size, sodium hyaluronate can penetrate into our skin when applied topically.
Its main function is to retain water for keeping your tissues well lubricated and moist. The hyaluronic acid also has several uses. Many people not only take it as a supplement, but also use it in topical serums, injections, and eye drops.
Hyaluronic Acid Benefits:
Here are a few hyaluronic acid benefits for both beauty and health:
Skin Care:
Hyaluronic acid is a natural compound present in the skin that plays several functions, including retaining moisture, providing cushioning, holding together the skin structural components of collagen, and creating a barrier against microorganisms.
1. Treats Dry, Dehydrated Skin:
Hyaluronic acid is a hydrator. Most people have felt a change in their skin texture after using hyaluronic acid. After usage, skin feels dewier, the bags under eyes become lighter, and skin texture becomes smoother. The primary way in which HA can help improve the appearance of skin is by reducing water loss. Dryness, dropping eyes or lips, dandruff, and sagginess are related to aging skin.
Skin ageing is caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic aging, environmental exposure to pollutants and UV light. HA can also help naturally reduce ageing signs by decreasing epidermis water loss related to sun exposure and skin dryness.
2. Reduces Wrinkles:
One of the causes of wrinkles is the loss of natural hyaluronic acid. Therefore, the idea of restoring HA back into the skin for reducing wrinkles is a good choice.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are essential for reducing wrinkles. By treating wrinkles, hyaluronic acid fillers make the skin look younger and improve skin tone, making it look smooth.
3. Promotes Healthy, Supple Skin:
Hyaluronic acid supplements can make your skin look and feel supple. About half of the hyaluronic acid in your body is present in your skin, where it connects to water to retain moisture. But, the natural aging process and exposure ultraviolet rays from the sun, tobacco smoke, and pollution can decrease its amounts in the skin.
Taking hyaluronic acid supplements can prevent this by providing your body with extra amounts to include in the skin. A daily dosage of 120-140 mg daily for at least one month has been shown to increase skin moisture levels and reduce dry skin in adults.
Hydrated skin also reduces the appearance of wrinkles, which is why supplementing skin with hyaluronic acid can make skin appear smoother. When applied to the skin’s surface, the hyaluronic acid serums can decrease wrinkles, dermatitis, and redness. Several dermatologists even use hyaluronic acid fillers for keeping skin looking youthful and firm.
4. Moisturizes Skin:
Hyaluronic acid can hold moisture up to 1000 times its weight in water. It is a commonly used component in moisturizers.
These moisturizers function not only to deliver moisture to the skin but also to hold it there.
It does not permeate deep into the skin, but instead, stays near the surface and moisturizes skin surface layers.
Health Benefits:
5. Heals Wounds Faster:
Hyaluronic acid plays an essential role in wound healing. It is naturally present in the skin, but its concentration increases when there is damage. Hyaluronic acid also aids in wound-healing, by regulating inflammation levels.
Applying it to skin wounds can also help to reduce the size of wounds and decrease pain. It also has antibacterial agents, so it can help reduce the risk of infection when applied directly to open wounds.
It is also effective at preventing gum disease, speeding up the healing process after tooth surgery, and eliminating ulcers when used topically in the mouth.
While there are studies that determine how hyaluronic acid serums and gels are beneficial, there is no evidence to support whether hyaluronic acid supplements can provide the same benefits.
6. Relieves Joint Pain:
Hyaluronic acid is present in the joints, where it keeps the space between the bones well lubricated. When the joints are lubricated, the bones are less likely to grind against each other and cause discomfort and pain.
Hyaluronic acid supplements are beneficial for people suffering from osteoarthritis, a type of degenerative joint disease caused by wear and tear of the joints. Taking 80-200 mg daily for at least two months can significantly reduce knee pain in people suffering from osteoarthritis, especially those between the ages of 40-70.
Hyaluronic acid can also be injected directly into the joints for pain relief. There are some studies that show that matching oral hyaluronic acid supplements with injections can extend pain relieving benefits.
7. Relieves Acid Reflux:
There are several new studies that suggest that taking hyaluronic acid supplements may reduce symptoms of acid reflux. When acid reflux occurs, the stomach contents are regurgitated into the throat, causes pain, and damages the lining of the esophagus.
Hyaluronic acid may also soothe damaged lining of the esophagus and speeds up the healing process.
8. Relieves Dry Eye and Discomfort:
About one out of seven older adults suffer from dry eye symptoms due to reduced tear production or tears evaporating too quickly. Since hyaluronic acid is great for retaining moisture, it is often used for treating dry eye.
Eye drops containing 0.2-0.4% hyaluronic acid has been shown to reduce dry eye symptoms and improve eye health. Contact lenses contain hyaluronic acid and are a possible treatment for dry eye.
Additionally, hyaluronic acid eye drops are often used during eye surgeries to reduce inflammation and speed up wound healing.
While applying the eye drops directly to the eyes, it has been shown to reduce dry eye symptoms and improve overall eye health. But it has not been proven yet, whether oral supplements can provide the same effects.
9. Improves Bone Strength:
Studies have found that hyaluronic acid supplements can help slow down the rate of bone loss in rats with osteopenia. While its effects on human bone health have not yet been established, early animal and test-tube studies look promising.
10. Prevents Bladder Pain:
About 3-6% of women suffer from a condition known as interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome. This disorder often causes abdominal pain and tenderness, along with a frequent urge to urinate.
While the causes of interstitial cystitis are unknown, hyaluronic acid has been found to relieve pain and urinary frequency related to this condition when inserted directly into the bladder through a catheter.
It is not clear why hyaluronic acid can also help to reduce these symptoms, but it can also help to repair damage to the bladder tissue, making it less sensitive to pain.
How To Use Hyaluronic Acid:
For skin and eyes:
- Hyaluronic acid injections are administered by doctors. Hence, talk to a dermatologist about recommendations if you are interested in using HA on your skin, lips, and eyes.
- Different skin care products contain varying conditions and types of HA molecules. The most effective types contain more than one size of hyaluronic acid molecules since several sizes work in different ways.
- Hyaluronic acid is used for treating dry eyes. HA can be administered in liquid eye drops three to four times daily for three months. Select eye drops with a concentration of HA around 0.2%-0.4%, but also make sure to follow directions.
Side Effects Of Hyaluronic Acid:
Hyaluronic acid is safe to use. There are no reported side effects. Since the body naturally produces it, allergic reactions are rare. A study of 60 people with osteoarthritis who took 200 mg daily for one year reported no negative side effects. But, its effects during pregnancy or breastfeeding have not been studied thoroughly; hence these groups should be careful and prevent supplementing with it.
There are also other pieces of evidence that cancer cells are sensitive to hyaluronic acid and taking supplements could make them grow faster.
There are studies that cancer cells are sensitive to hyaluronic acid and taking these supplements could make them grow faster. Because of this reason, it is generally advised that people with cancer should avoid taking supplements.
Taking hyaluronic acid injections to the skin or joints have a higher risk of side effects. But, negative reactions are mostly related to the injection procedure, rather than hyaluronic acid itself.
On the other hand, if you use hyaluronic acid in other forms, like through a skin care product, certain side effects may occur. The only hyaluronic acid skin side effect is dryness.
Skin Care Products That Have Hyaluronic Acid:
Hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate, HA has several benefits and is one of the most useful ingredients in skin care products. In skin care, you can get hyaluronic acid creams, injectables, serums, and hyaluronic acid supplements.
This chemical is known for its hydrating properties. It acts as a filler for wrinkles and fine lines. The acid can also hold 1000 times its water weight, making this an effective way to lock in moisture and prevent it from producing oil.
Using hyaluronic acid can change your skin for better by clearing it up.
If you have been interested in trying it out, you do not have to cash out plenty of money. You can find hyaluronic acid moisturizers in several drugstore brands. Check them out ahead.
1. Derma e Hydrating Day Crème With Hyaluronic Acid:
For preventing anti-aging signs, try the Derma E Hydrating Day Crème with Hyaluronic Acid. It also contains antioxidants, green tea, Vitamin C, E, and soothing aloe.
2. La Roche Posay Hydra-phase Intense Riche Skin Treatment:
This skin treatment is formulated to help your skin retain water. A hyaluronic acid infused skin treatment feels great on your skin throughout the day.
3. Avène Physio Lift Day Smoothing Emulsion:
Other than the inclusion of hyaluronic acid, the Avène Physio Lift Day Smoothing Emulsion cream is also enriched with Vitamin E and natural thermal spring water and is made to soothe, soften, and lift.
4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream:
The oil-free and fast absorbing gel cream is suitable for all skin types. It comes with ingredients like olive extract for an extra moisture boost.
5. Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Fix Moisturizer:
Make use of hyaluronic acid for skin moisturizer not just on your face, but from head to toe for plump, healthy skin.
Final Thoughts On Hyaluronic Acid:
Hyaluronic acid supplements can be taken safely and it offers several health benefits. It is also known for its skin benefits, especially treating dry skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and speeding up the wound-healing process. Hyaluronic acid can also help to relieve joint pains in the case of osteoarthritis.
Other ways to apply hyaluronic acid comes in the form of acid eye drops to relieve dry eye and inserting hyaluronic acid directly into the bladder through caterer for reducing pain. On the whole, hyaluronic acid is a beneficial supplement for several conditions, especially related to skin and joint health.