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Hyaluronic acid is an essential part of skincare with numerous benefits. It’s an active ingredient in most skin care products, from serums and moisturizers to cleansers.
However, what makes it so loved in the cosmetic industry, and why is it used in almost every skincare formulation?
Read on to learn more about hyaluronic acid benefits and why it should be an essential part of your routine for glowing skin.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a sugar/polysaccharide naturally occurring in the body. It is produced by the skin, connective tissue, and eyes. About 50% of hyaluronic acid content in the body resides on the skin.
Hyaluronic acid attracts and binds water molecules, thereby increasing the skin's moisture. Therefore, hyaluronic acid is essential for skin moisture and elasticity.
As a person ages, the body’s hyaluronic acid stores decrease concentration and molecular weight. Other factors like smoking and air pollution also accelerate this process.
However, with lots of research in this field, there is now a remedy. Lots of cosmetic products now feature hyaluronic acid as an active ingredient. This can help rebuild hyaluronic acid stores in the body. Hyaluronic acid comes in different forms and types, from serums to injections.
Types of Hyaluronic Acid
If you check some serums or moisturizers, you may not see the term “hyaluronic acid.” That’s because it’s present in other forms. They include the following:
1. Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
This hyaluronic acid is a form that has been broken down into smaller elements so they can easily pass through the skin barrier. Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is moisturizing but the best moisturizing option. It’s recommended for people with oily to combination skin as they don’t want to over-moisturize their skin.
2. Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium hyaluronate is a common ingredient in serums. It produces better results than hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid as it seeps deeper into the skin but doesn’t give a long-lasting effect. It’s perfect for normal skin.
3. Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
It has similar benefits to sodium hyaluronate but with longer-lasting results. It’s best for dry skin or for those living in dry climates or looking for a cosmetic product for a dry winter period.
7 Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid
1. Skin Hydration
The major benefit of hyaluronic acid is that it provides hydration to the skin and its innate ability to retain moisture.
Hyaluronic acid works by penetrating the skin layer and binds water to skin cells.
When the top layer of the skin lacks moisture, it appears dry, rough, and flaky. This is a sign of dehydrated skin, which looks unappealing and threatens the skin, making it vulnerable to damage from diverse sources.
Hyaluronic acid is a testament to how our skin sometimes needs limited ingredient skincare for maximum results.
Hydrated skin looks younger, plumper, and healthier. Some people apply hyaluronic acid to their skin in the form of creams and serums, while others take it as an oral supplement.
2. Smoothens Skin Texture
A smooth skin texture is easily noticed and felt, and rough skin can psychologically affect a person. Hyaluronic acid helps to reduce the roughness of a person’s skin.
In cases of acne scarring, hyaluronic acid may not cause total clearing of the scars. However, a tool like a derma roller in combination with hyaluronic acid will give the desired result- smoother skin.
3. Tighter Skin Tone
Aging comes with an increase in the breakdown of skin elasticity. The skin doesn’t bounce back as it used to, and it becomes saggy. No one wants saggy skin, and hyaluronic acid can help with that.
A quick way to check your skin elasticity is to pinch the skin on top of your hand. If it bounces back immediately, then you have a lot of elastin. However, as you increase in age, your skin may not bounce back as quickly.
Hyaluronic acid doesn’t replace lost elastin. Instead, it works on the appearance of tightness in your skin. It increases skin moisture and tightens the overall skin look. This gives you a firmer facial contour and a youthful look.
4. Reduces Fine Lines And Wrinkles
You don’t have to wait until you’re older before you start protecting your skin against wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid can offer that protection to your twenty or sixty-year-old skin.
Hyaluronic acid reduces fine lines and wrinkles on a person’s face by retaining moisture and giving the skin a plumper look.
When the skin is adequately protected (by sunscreen) and hydrated(by using a product with hyaluronic acid), there will be an increase in the production of skin cells leading to healthier, smoother-looking skin.
The skin around the eyes is the first place that shows wrinkles and fine lines. A fine way to start protecting your skin against fine lines is to invest in an eye cream and use it twice daily.
5. Helps With Hyperpigmentation
This benefit is not a direct one, but it is a result of increased cell turnover. When you use hyaluronic acid regularly, your skin cells proliferate, and this ingredient works on the skin over time to reduce age spots and pigmentation issues.
To treat dark spots and hyperpigmentation, combine hyaluronic acid with an effective vitamin c serum.
Also, pamper and care for your skin by investing in sunscreen. This will ensure that no more damage from the sun affects your skin. Wear an SPF of 30 or more daily, even if you are indoors throughout.
6. Reduces Dermatitis
Dermatitis and eczema are skin diseases that often present with flaky and dry skin. Hyaluronic acid can help alleviate these symptoms.
Creams and foams incorporated with hyaluronic acid are more pleasant to use, and they also improve eczema conditions remarkably.
7. Increases Skin Resilience
Hyaluronic acid helps healthy skin. When the skin's lipid barrier is further enhanced by hyaluronic acid, the skin can defend itself against pollutants, bacteria, and other environmental factors. The skin also looks less wrinkled, brighter, and more bouncy.
A good number of products in the market have a lot of preservatives that break down the lipid barrier of your skin and also kill good bacteria which defend your skin in the process. When you use these products repeatedly, your skin becomes dehydrated and more irritated, and you may even develop an infection if care is not taken.
So, go for products with few ingredients and minimal preservatives. People with oily skin or acne-prone skin should stay away from harsh chemicals as these will strip the skin of oil and cause irritation and inflammation (because they don’t have a strong lipid barrier).
Use products with hyaluronic acid with minimal products for the best results and increased skin resilience to toxins.
Forms of Hyaluronic Acid Application
Hyaluronic acid is available in diverse forms
Oral Supplements
Oral tablets have been shown to have lots of benefits as other methods. They don’t just address skin dehydration and wrinkles. They also work for joint pains.
However, it’s important to seek a doctor’s advice before taking them as they may interact with other medications you’re taking.
Topical Hyaluronic Acid
Topical hyaluronic acid works to increase the moisture level of the skin. Hyaluronic acid is often the major ingredient in some of these formulations and may be present as sodium hyaluronate or hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid for easy seeping through the skin layer.
You can find them in creams, moisturizing lotions, serums, foams, and cleansers.
Injections And Fillers
Hyaluronic acid can be injected into the body for medical and cosmetic uses. It leaves no adverse effects since it is a naturally occurring acid in the body.
One of the cosmetic purposes of hyaluronic acid is fillers, facial and lip fillers (just like lip injections). A licensed dermatologist will inject hyaluronic acid into the lips to give them a plumper look.
The injection works the same way as the topical application. Hyaluronic acid binds to water in your body and makes your skin look smooth, plump, and glowing. In face fillers, hyaluronic acid comes in a gel form that maintains its shape and creates structure and volume in the skin.
Get Hyaluronic Acid Injections at Clinique Main D’or
Hyaluronic acid injections/ dermal fillers are one of the most in-demand fillers at Main D’or. They are an excellent option because of their stunning results. You can request for HA fillers anywhere on your face to regain face shape and replace lost volume. Most people go for lines around the nose and mouth.
On a visit to the clinic, a dermatologist will recommend the brand of filler to use based on your needs and budget. Some last anywhere from four months to a year. The more hyaluronic acid injections a person gets, the more dramatic the result and the longer it will last. The site of injection will also affect how long it lasts. Places that don’t move a lot, like the chin, will last longer than others that move about much.
Before settling for hyaluronic acid injections and fillers, please speak to one of our experts so you get the best results that suit your features and goals. A good dermal clinic emphasizes dermal injections that enhance your natural looks to get the best natural-looking features. To schedule an appointment or learn more about hyaluronic acid and how it can benefit your skin, call Main D’or Clinic at 514-991-4514.