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Hyaluronic acid can help give your skin glow and a more youthful appearance, while this beauty molecule also benefits your joints.
Hyaluronic acid, also called hyaluronan, is often recommended by dermatologists and other doctors for its ability to improve skin texture and appearance, while also reducing joint pain and other symptoms associated with aging.
Hyaluronic acid is probably best known for being included in expensive anti-aging serums and creams for the skin, but you also find this beauty molecule in food supplements, also called nutricosmetics - which are food supplements for beauty. Hyaluronic acid is also used in injection form, to contribute to more beautiful skin.
So what exactly is hyaluronic acid, and how does it work? Hyaluronic acid is a lubricating, clear substance produced naturally by the body. In the human body, hyaluronic acid is found in the skin, inside the joints, in the eyes and in other tissues where it helps maintain collagen , increase moisture and provide elasticity and flexibility.
Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan; a long unbranched polysaccharide. A polysaccharide in turn is a type of carbohydrate. In other words, hyaluronic acid is a very long link of carbohydrate molecules bound together. Hyaluronic acid is produced naturally by the body, and in the human body hyaluronic acid is found in the skin and in other tissues where it helps maintain collagen , increase moisture and provide elasticity and flexibility.
Yes, hyaluronic acid is like a water bomb for the skin. Many people report that their skin feels "fuller", the bags under the eyes are reduced and that the skin is smoother after applying serums to the face containing hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid helps improve the appearance of "aged skin" by reducing water loss. One reason why hormone treatments sometimes make the skin look more youthful is that these treatments increase the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the skin.
Dryness and laxity are associated with aging skin because our skin loses some of its ability to bind and retain water. This not only causes dryness, but also reduces the "fullness" of the skin. Skin aging is triggered by both intrinsic and extrinsic aging, which involves daily exposure to environmental pollutants and UV light, along with "the normal aging process."
Researchers have found that dryness of the stratum corneum (epidermis, the outer skin layer) caused by prolonged sun exposure plays a major role in wrinkle formation. It has now also been shown that wrinkles and fine lines are also usually more visible in low humidity compared to high humidity environments, as this further reduces the skin's ability to 'bind water'. Hyaluronic acid can help naturally reduce signs of aging by reducing "epidermal water loss" associated with sun exposure and skin dryness.
Within a few weeks of using a product containing hyaluronic acid, you can see a visible increase in skin hydration. Although most studies show that skin products with hyaluronic acid can take six weeks or more to improve the skin's appearance, some studies have found that anti-wrinkle serums with hyaluronic acid can sometimes show results within two to four weeks of use.
Studies with hyaluronic acid show a statistically significant moisturizing effect, finer skin structure and improved skin elasticity.
Aside from reducing the appearance of wrinkles and dryness, hyaluronic acid is beneficial in treating cold sores and cold sores, as well as burns and other minor wounds, by keeping damaged tissue moist. Tissue repair benefits also include those from sunburn.
Hyaluronic acid is part of the structural component of the mouth and lips, which consists of connective tissues made partly of collagen and water. Collagen and hyaluronic acid help give the lips their structure and shape. Because hyaluronic acid binds to water, it hydrates the skin and tissues of the mouth/lips, helps bring nutrients to damaged tissues, and controls inflammation.
Hyaluronic acid is found in all bones, connective tissue, joints, tendons, and cartilage structures throughout the body—especially a type called hyaline cartilage, which covers the ends of bones and provides cushioning. Because it provides resistance to wear and tear, hyaluronic acid is useful in reducing pain and tenderness associated with degenerative joint disease.
It is also found in another important part of our joints called the synovial membrane, which forms a coating over the bones and produces synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is a "viscous fluid" that helps joints remain elastic and transports nutrients to the cartilage.
Hyaluronic acid is a popular substance used in dietary supplements to treat osteoarthritis pain and injuries. It has also been approved by the FDA for the treatment of osteoarthritis when administered in relatively high doses through injections given by a doctor. Some research shows that lower doses may also be effective in reducing joint stiffness and chronic pain, although results appear to vary. The types of joint pain most commonly treated with hyaluronic acid include elbows and knees.
The biggest advantage that hyaluronic acid has to offer is that it has a very high capacity to retain/bind water, be it on the skin, in the eyes or in the soft tissues. Hyaluronic acid is considered a glycosaminoglycan, which gives it its capacity to hold a large volume of water along with its high viscosity. Hyaluronic acid is distributed throughout the body in many different tissues, especially in the skin, where it provides moisture and structure. The skin accounts for approximately half of all hyaluronic acid found in the entire body.
Other body parts where hyaluronic acid is concentrated include tendons and joints, the membranes of the eyes, the umbilical cord, synovial fluid, skeletal tissue, heart valves, lungs, aorta and prostate. Hyaluronic acid is basically a very long chain of linked carbohydrate molecules that hold water and therefore enable fluid movement and pressure absorption.
The size of different hyaluronic acid molecules is decisive for hyaluronic acid's various functions. Larger molecules are found in healthy tissue and help keep inflammation, free radicals and dehydration under control. On the other hand, smaller polymers of hyaluronic acid can send distress signals to the immune system and raise inflammation to aid in injury or wound healing.
Hyaluronic acid is often referred to as "the most important molecule involved in hydrated skin." Hyaluronic acid is produced by our bodies and benefits the skin, but this skin booster diminishes as we age.
Unlike when adults get wounds on their skin, fetal skin wounds are known for quick repair without scarring. The ability of a fetal skin wound to heal so well depends on several factors, including high levels of hyaluronic acid in a fetus compared to the lower levels of hyaluronic acid seen in an adult.
In recent years, there has been an explosion of new natural skin care products hitting the market containing hyaluronic acid, which promise to make the skin softer, plumper, smoother and generally more "youthful".
Hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water; because the size of these molecules is relatively large compared to other acids, it has never been easy for skin care manufacturers to produce a hyaluronic acid product that actually penetrates the skin.
Only in the last decade have scientists been able to create advanced formulas with hyaluronic acid that can really penetrate below the skin's surface. Recent studies show that topical application of advanced (low molecular weight) hyaluronic acid serums can improve skin moisture and lead to significant reductions in wrinkle depth – within just a few weeks.
Hyaluronic acid is also beneficial in reducing oxidative damage to the skin caused by both internal and external factors, especially ultraviolet radiation.
In addition to UV damage, researchers now believe that aging of the skin is also affected by hormonal changes, including reduced production of sex hormones such as estrogen. Decreased estrogen can result in the breakdown of collagen , leading to dryness, loss of elasticity, and wrinkling of the skin (along with other aging problems, such as joint pain and dry eyes).
Since hyaluronic acid is involved in slowing the loss of collagen, in addition to reducing fluid and/or water loss, it can also help improve joints and reduce joint pain, as well as treat various eye and mouth problems.
Hyaluronic acid can have a synthetic or a natural origin. But regardless of the source, its molecular structure is always the same – a sugar with hygroscopic properties (attracts and retains water). Hyaluronic acid can be formed in different ways. Biologically through the synthesis of fibroblasts in the body, naturally from fermentation (fermentation) of various types of plants, from animals, and synthetically. In e.g. fermentation of plants, the plant is fermented with specific bacteria, purified and then precipitated. This process extracts the hyaluronic acid that is naturally present in the plant, producing a naturally derived hyaluronic acid.
The body produces hyaluronic acid itself, but the body's own production of hyaluronic acid gradually declines with age. Therefore, it can be good to supply the body with extra hyaluronic acid via a dietary supplement as you get older, in order to maintain a functional and healthy body, and counteract dehydrated skin.
Hyaluronic acid, just like collagen, is used in fillers (injections with syringes) to make the skin look younger, as well as in various creams that can be applied to the skin! Hyaluronic acid can also be injected into the body's joints to provide pain relief and improve joint mobility.
No. As hyaluronic acid mainly occurs in parts of the animal that are not usually part of a normal traditional diet, a food supplement with hyaluronic acid is the best and easiest way to get hyaluronic acid.
It is possible to slow-cook animal bones, and then drink the broth - which contains both collagen and hyaluronic acid, and other useful substances found in the broth, if you want to get hyaluronic acid through food.
The body produces hyaluronic acid itself, but the body's own production of hyaluronic acid gradually declines with age. Therefore, it can be good to supply the body with extra hyaluronic acid via a dietary supplement as you get older, in order to maintain a functional and healthy body.
Natural aging is a major factor in the formation and reduction of less hyaluronic acid in the body, but UV rays and smoking also contribute to a reduction in the body's hyaluronic acid. This is one of the reasons why sun-damaged skin becomes wrinkled and flabby.
The total amount of hyaluronic acid that the body produces decreases with age. Adding hyaluronic acid via a dietary supplement can restore the reduced amount in the body's tissues.
We recommend taking hyaluronic acid every day, without a break, for optimal results.
Hyaluronic acid can be produced chemically, fermented from a natural source, but also come from animals such as e.g. rooster (rooster's comb) and chicken. The hyaluronic acid in COLLAGEN – SKIN & HAIR COMPLEX™ comes from a natural fermentation.
