What Are the Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid for Skin?
The polymer hyaluronic acid is an important natural component of skin produced by fibroblast skin cells, which decreases as you age 13. Skin starts losing hyaluronic acid as early as age 18, but wrinkles and other skin damage from hyaluronic acid loss don't generally show up until the late 30s or early 40s 13. Preserving or regaining hyaluronic acid is a goal of many skin care scientists and products that can help with these tasks can keep skin supple and youthful-looking 13.
Definition
Hyaluronic acid, also known as HA, is a natural compound found in skin that has many important functions, including holding in moisture, providing cushioning, aiding in tissue repair, holding together the skin structural components collagen and elastin, and helping create a protective barrier against microorganisms 13.
Types of Products
How to Firm Up Skin After Menopause
Learn More
Many skin care products contain hyaluronic acid 13. Topical products containing HA are considered are effective at moisturizing surface skin cells, which prevents water loss and protects the skin from dirt and other pollutants. Hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Restylane, are injected into the deep layers of the skin to replace missing HA in the dermis, temporarily restoring plumpness and filling in wrinkles and creases 13. This restores a youthful appearance to the face, neck, chest or other areas injected with HA fillers.
Moisturizing
Since hyaluronic acid holds moisture well--holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water--it is a commonly used component in moisturizers 13. In these moisturizers, it functions not only to deliver water to the skin, but also to hold it there. As a large molecule, it doesn't permeate deep into the skin, but instead stays near the surface where it moisturizes the skin surface layers.
Wrinkles
What are the Top Anti-Aging Peptides?
Learn More
The loss of natural hyaluronic acid is one of the causes of wrinkles, so the idea of putting HA back into the skin to repair wrinkles makes sense 13. Hyaluronic acid fillers are useful for reducing or removing wrinkles 13. By reducing wrinkles, hyaluronic acid fillers make the skin look younger and increase skin tone, making it look smooth and supple 13.
Safety
Hyaluronic acid based products are considered highly safe, especially those made from synthesized HA, which is made in bacteria instead of using human or animal tissue 13. There are few allergic reactions or side effects involved with using hyaluronic acid, though some people may experience mild, temporary redness or swelling after an injection 13.
Considerations
Hyaluronic acid injections last longer than collagen injections 13. Injected HA fillers typically last four to six months, causing a reduction in wrinkles and an increased plumpness to the dermis during this time. Since topical products with HA cannot penetrate to deeper layers, the moisturizing effects from these will only last a few days. Repeated use will maintain moisture levels in the skin, preventing skin dehydration.
- Hyaluronic acid injections last longer than collagen injections 1.
- Injected HA fillers typically last four to six months, causing a reduction in wrinkles and an increased plumpness to the dermis during this time.
Related Articles
References
- Smart Skin Care: Hyaluronic Acid
- Innovations Report: FDA-Approved Skin Fillers
- Ultimate Cosmetics: Hyaluronic Acid
- Morla S. Glycosaminoglycans and Glycosaminoglycan Mimetics in Cancer and Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(8):1963. doi:10.3390/ijms20081963
- Pomin VH, Mulloy B. Glycosaminoglycans and Proteoglycans. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2018;11(1):27. doi:10.3390/ph11010027
- Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, Karakiulakis G. Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012;4(3):253-258. doi:10.4161/derm.21923
- Gupta RC, Lall R, Srivastava A, Sinha A. Hyaluronic Acid: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Trajectory. Front Vet Sci. 2019;6:192. doi:10.3389/fvets.2019.00192
- Kim JE, Sykes JM. Hyaluronic acid fillers: history and overview. Facial Plast Surg. 2011;27(6):523-8. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1298785
- Van Dyke S, Hays GP, Caglia AE, Caglia M. Severe Acute Local Reactions to a Hyaluronic Acid-derived Dermal Filler. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2010;3(5):32-35.
- Bukhari SNA, Roswandi NL, Waqas M, et. al. Hyaluronic Acid, a Promising Skin Rejuvenating Biomedicine: A Review of Recent Updates and Pre-Clinical and Clinical Investigations on Cosmetic and Nutricosmetic Effects. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 120(Pt B):1682-1695. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.09.188
- Narurkar VA, Fabi SG, Bucay VW, et. al. Rejuvenating Hydrator: Restoring Epidermal Hyaluronic Acid Homeostasis With Instant Benefits. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. (1 Suppl 2):s24-37.
- Raab S, Yatskayer M, Lynch S, Manco M, Oresajo C. Clinical Evaluation of a Multi-Modal Facial Serum That Addresses Hyaluronic Acid Levels in Skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 16(9):884-890.
Writer Bio
Bridget Coila specializes in health, nutrition, pregnancy, pet and parenting topics. Her articles have appeared in Oxygen, American Fitness and on various websites. Coila has a Bachelor of Science in cell and molecular biology from the University of Cincinnati and more than 10 years of medical research experience.