When you start seeing the name of one ingredient in almost all the skincare products, chances are that either that ingredient is just used as a buzzword or it might actually be a wonderful ingredient. So what does Hyaluronic acid come under?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is something you might have seen in some expensive moisturizer or perhaps a fancy face cleanser or some other facial cream. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about HA.
From the benefits of hyaluronic acid, its structure, presence, and what are the ways you can use it. We will also look at all the relevant research data as well. Is HA really a ‘super-ingredient?’
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid, also called hyaluronan, is a long-chain polymer that is naturally found inside our bodies. Contrary to the term ‘acid’ in its name, it is not actually a true acid.
Think of it as a thick, gooey gel that is moist to the touch. If you have ever used Neutrogena’s HydroBoost moisturizer, HA feels very similar to that, just a bit more dense and gooey.
You might be surprised to know that hyaluronic acid is found in so many places in the body; skin, joints, eyes, etc. Not only HA helps in keeping things moist, but it also helps in lubrication.
Benefits for the Skin
So why is every skincare company using Hyaluronic acid as one of their ingredients, especially in moisturizers? Because when it comes to moisturization, hyaluronic acid is actually a super ingredient.
Hyaluronic acid can hold almost 1000 times its weight in water. Get ready to get shocked; around 1 ml of Hyaluronic acid can hold up to 5 liters of water! There is a reason why it’s called a ‘super-ingredient.’
Let’s take a look at all the benefits of hyaluronic acid for your skin:
Hydrates Your Skin
The first and most important benefit of hyaluronic acid is how much it helps your skin in retaining moisture. Almost all skin issues origin can be found in the loss of moisture.
Since hyaluronic acid is such a wonderful moisture retainer, it is used as a moisturizer. HA can keep your skin hydrated for really long periods of time. Moisturized skin is healthy skin.
It also locks the moisture in so that the environment and other factors do not affect your skin’s moisture. HA helps your skin to be truly moisturized.
Note: Hyaluronic acid needs the presence of water to moisturize the skin. It is why dermatologists recommend that you apply moisturizers with hyaluronic acid when your skin is damp or moist.
Reverses Signs of Ageing
Healthy and moisturized skin looks plump and young. Any moisturizer can help you achieve that, right? Well, it is not just about moisturization and aging.
Research showed that the loss of natural hyaluronic acid from the skin is one of the major reasons for signs of aging. As your skin ages, it loses the natural HA acid present in there, leading to dryness, droopy skin, etc.
So hyaluronic acid does not just work on the surface to remove the signs of aging, but it actually helps the skin in retaining its youthful qualities.
Soothes Skin
Since hyaluronic acid is also a great lubricant, it works wonderfully to soothe the skin and reduce irritation. Hyaluronic acid has a proven ability to reduce bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, according to this research.
All these qualities make it a wonderful ingredient to not only improve skin health but also soothe the skin.
Reduces Wrinkles and Fine Lines
As already mentioned, since hyaluronic acid goes to the core of skin aging issues, it also helps in reducing wrinkles and fine lines; the most common due to signs of aging.
Improves Skin Texture
Not only does hyaluronic acid keep the skin hydrated and soothes it, but it also helps in maintaining the very important natural skin barrier.
Compromise in the natural skin barrier can lead to dryness and rough skin texture. HA keeps the skin moist, and the skin barrier intact, giving you a smooth skin texture.
Any Side Effects of Hyaluronic Acid?
With so many wonderful benefits listed, one cannot help but think if there are any negative effects of this wonderful ingredient on the skin.
Hyaluronic acids are wonderful not just for their positive effects, but also for their lack of any negative effects. Since HA is also made in the body, the body rarely shows any side effects towards it.
Hyaluronic acid is known to be compatible with almost all skin types, with almost no complaints of acne triggers, rosacea, irritation, or skin burning.
When it comes to hyaluronic acid skin fillers, people who have had severe skin issues, or who are currently on some medicine should consult their doctor before getting the procedure done.
Even then, hyaluronic acid fillers are one of the safest fillers ingredients and the procedure is completely reversible.
This inert nature of HA makes it possible to be administered in multiple ways; oral ingestion, topical application, eye drops, and injections.
Another important thing you need to know is that hyaluronic acid can dry your face if moisture is not present around it.
If the weather is dry, hyaluronic acid can take the moisture from the skin, making it drier. So ensure that your skin is moist while you apply it, and keep spraying water if you can.
Interesting Facts About Hyaluronic Acid That You May Not Know
We all know that hyaluronic acid is used in moisturizers because of its qualities. But there are so many things that you may not know about these wonderful ingredients. Let’s take a look at them;
Hyaluronic Acid Does not “Moisturise” Skin
Yes, you read that right. Hyaluronic acid is not a moisturizer, but a hydrator. It does not make the skin watery and plump, but it helps in keeping the already present moisture in the skin intact.
It does not change your skin in any way; if you stop applying the cream, your skin will be back to its dry form. Hyaluronic acid is more like a plastic bottle than water. It is wonderful at storing water, but it is not water.
Hyaluronic Acid Does Not Penetrate the Skin
Hyaluronic acid is a large chain polymer that is too large to enter your skin. Does that make any difference? In some ways, it does.
Hyaluronic acid sits on the top of your face, rather than getting absorbed into the skin. It works more like makeup than cream.
Companies are trying to make versions of it that penetrate the skin and work intrinsically rather than superficially.
Hyaluronic Acid is Expensive
The reason why you do not see a lot of products in India with hyaluronic acid as one of the ingredients is that it is very expensive to make. A super-ingredient does not come easily.
So if you see a cheap moisturizer or skin product with hyaluronic acid written as one of the USPs, it is better to avoid it as it might be some other form of hyaluronic acid.
So make sure you get a great product with hyaluronic acid and bring back the moisture your skin deserves. It does not matter what age you are, every adult can use moisturizers and creams with hyaluronic acid.
Take care of your skin.
Read: 5 Wonderful Benefits of Vitamin B5 for Skin You Did Not Know
