What is hyaluronic acid and how does it work?

Hyaluronic acid is probably one of the most famous beauty ingredients. Even people far removed from the beauty industry have heard of it. However, knowledge about hyaluronic acid is often limited to the fact that it can reduce wrinkles. In fact, everything is not that simple.

What is hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is the most versatile "beauty molecule". It was discovered in 1934 by Karl Meyer and his assistant John Palmer.Hyaluronic acid is found in bones, connective tissue, cartilage, hair follicles, and skin. Meanwhile, almost half of hyaluronic acid is found in the skin, where it binds to water like a magnet, slowing its evaporation and helping cells retain moisture. Just 1 gram of hyaluronic acid has an impressive ability to hold 6 liters of water. Add to that the ability to regulate intracellular water levels, and you have an amazing cellular ingredient. It allows the skin to maintain high levels of moisture, keeping it elastic and healthy.Therefore, hyaluronic acid has three main benefits:

• Anti-Aging;
• Moisturizing;
• wound healing.

Under the influence of UV rays, tobacco smoke and polluted environments, hyaluronic acid can be destroyed by free radicals.

How to Know Your Skin Needs Hyaluronic Acid

After 25 years, skin cells produce less hyaluronic acid. This occurs due to a slowdown in the ability of cells to divide and retain water. Dehydrated skin has an uneven structure, is covered with fine lines, and looks dull.In order to keep your skin soft, elastic and shiny, you can add hyaluronic acid-containing creams and preparations to your daily care starting from the age of 25, and hyaluronic acid essence after the age of 30.

hyaluronic acid supplements

If hyaluronic acid is deficient, it is recommended to take appropriate supplements. Research shows that taking 120-240 mg of hyaluronic acid daily for at least one month can significantly improve skin hydration and reduce dryness. Dietary supplements containing hyaluronic acid can be taken starting at age 20.

Why are hyaluronic acid products ineffective?

If your skin is well hydrated, products containing hyaluronic acid may clump when applied, meaning there is no need to use this ingredient at this time.If you feel a film on your skin after using a cream or essence containing hyaluronic acid, then your skin does not need hyaluronic acid.

What skin type are hyaluronic acid products suitable for?

There are three main types of skin:

• normal;
• dry;
• Fat.

Any type of skin can experience dehydration and sensitivity. That said, both oily and normal skin can become dehydrated. It's important not to confuse dehydration with dry skin type. Dry skin is caused by a lack of lipids, not moisture.

What names can hyaluronic acid have on its packaging?

Hyaluronic acid has the following names:

• Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid;
• Acetylated hyaluronate;
• Sodium hyaluronate;
• Hyaluronic acid sodium salt.

Which skin care products contain hyaluronic acid

serum

They're lightweight, have minimal ingredients, and feature the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid. Additionally, the texture of the serum allows the hyaluronic acid to penetrate the skin faster. It's best to use a combination of large and small molecules to provide immediate hydration to the top layer of skin and longer-lasting results to the lower epidermis.How to use hyaluronic acid serum correctlyIt is very important to use hyaluronic acid serum correctly. In fact, if you apply a serum containing hyaluronic acid to dry skin in a humid room without applying a cream afterwards, the serum will absorb moisture from the air, creating a feeling of tightness but not tightening. Dry face. If the skin is moisturized but the room is dry, the hyaluronic acid present on the surface of the face will absorb moisture from the skin and evaporate into the air, causing a dry feeling.Therefore, it is important to apply hyaluronic acid serum on slightly damp skin - you can spray your face with hot water or partially dry it with a towel. Apply moisturizer immediately after applying the serum to "seal" the hyaluronic acid in the skin. skin. This way the moisturizing effect will be maximized. This program is suitable for any skin type.

Cleansing products

Syndents containing sodium hyaluronate will help remove makeup, dirt and excess sebum. Apply product to damp skin and wash off.

Sodium hyaluronate lotion

Can be used on face and body.

sodium hyaluronate gel

The gel should be applied to the skin until completely absorbed.

cream

Hyaluronic acid is a "team player" and works best when combined with a face cream.

What are the side effects of using hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is probably the least harmful ingredient for skin when it comes to side effects. Because hyaluronic acid is a normal part of the skin, allergic reactions to it are very rare.Unlike glycolic acid, salicylic acid, etc. , this acid is not used to renew the epidermis, but to moisturize and maintain the skin's hydrolipidic mantle. Therefore, it does not "expose" the skin and does not cause redness. Does not irritate the skin exfoliation process when used topically.If you experience side effects after using products containing hyaluronic acid, you should pay attention to the ingredients of the product - you may be allergic to other ingredients. This reaction may be caused by using too high a concentration of hyaluronic acid. Therefore, to avoid irritation or dryness, it is recommended to avoid hyaluronic acid concentrations higher than 2%.It's also wise to conduct a preliminary "patch test" - apply a small amount of the new product to the back of your wrist and assess the side effects for 24 hours. If you experience any side effects after using hyaluronic acid, you should consult a dermatologist.Topical preparations containing hyaluronic acid are safe to use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

What should hyaluronic acid be?

The benefits of hyaluronic acid depend directly on its molecular weight and concentration. The diameter of hyaluronic acid is also important as it determines the ingredient's ability to penetrate the skin.Molecular weight is measured in what is called a unit of atomic mass - daltons or kDa. Hyaluronic acid of 50 to 1000 kDa is most beneficial to the skin; a weight of approximately 130 kDa is considered optimal. Exceeding this indicator has no qualitative significance.Why does 130 kDa weight have the greatest effect?In one study, researchers evaluated the effects of hyaluronic acid at different molecular weights, including 50, 130, 300, 800 and 2000 kDa, on the skin. One month after starting to use topical preparations with different weights of acids, experts found that using 130 kDa was the most effective - increasing skin elasticity by 20%. After 60 days, wrinkle depth and skin roughness were significantly reduced in both the 50 kDa group and the 130 kDa group. All other molecular weights also increase skin elasticity and hydration, but to a lesser extent.

What ingredients does hyaluronic acid combine well with?

If you're looking for a pair of ingredients for optimal skin care, choose hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. They complement each other to promote maximum hydration, protection and repair of the skin.Another reason these ingredients work together is because too much vitamin C can lead to irritation, dry skin, and even acne, while hyaluronic acid not only soothes and repairs the skin and helps form a moisture barrier, but it also acts as an excellent messenger to provide the skin withMoisture. The effects of vitamin C on cells.

Other Medical Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid

In addition to its excellent cosmetic effects in skin care, sodium hyaluronate has other indications for medical use.

knee osteoarthritis

Hyaluronic acid is found in joint fluid and cartilage. However, with osteoarthritis, sodium hyaluronate levels in the joints are reduced. Injections of sodium hyaluronate may help treat osteoarthritis of the knee. The drug is injected directly into the knee to help reduce pain in the area.

eye surgery

Sodium hyaluronate drops can be used for the following procedures:

• cornea transplant surgery;
• glaucoma correction;
• secondary intraocular lens implantation;
• Cataract surgery.

Due to its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects, sodium hyaluronate can reduce dry eye syndrome that may occur after surgery.

Sodium hyaluronate nasal spray

This product effectively moisturizes and regenerates the sinus mucosa.

Hyaluronic acid injection

Injectable wrinkle fillers can enhance the appearance of your skin more gently than a traditional facelift. Most fillers or fillers can fill cavities, fine lines, and wrinkles in 30 minutes, with results that can last from 4 months to a year.

What does the injection do?

Hyaluronic acid gel has a wide range of applications:

• Smooth wrinkles
• lip augmentation
• facial contour modeling
• Intensive skin hydration

The most popular category of wrinkle fillers is hyaluronic acid. Each drug works differently and produces different results.

side effect

Side effects of these injections are rare but may include:

• redness;
• edema;
• Bruising at the injection site.

Fillers may also cause tiny bumps under the skin, but this should disappear within a day.If you take blood thinners, the injection site will bleed longer and may cause minor bruising.

What you should know before injecting hyaluronic acid

• You should not be swayed solely by the price of surgery.
• If you get wrinkle correction services at a significantly lower price, the workmanship or quality of the product may leave much to be desired.
• The procedure must be performed only in medical centers.
• Surgery must be performed only in a medical setting, regardless of who performs it.
• Be sure to ask for the name of the medication.
• Before the injection, the expert must announce the name of the drug and show how he opens the new package. If the specialist does not provide this information, it is better to refuse the procedure.

Use sunscreen every day. This will help prolong the effects of the filler and prevent post-inflammatory pigmentary changes that may occur at the injection site.

Special precautions when injecting hyaluronic acid

PregnantThere is currently no data confirming the safety of hyaluronic acid injections during pregnancy.breast-feedingThere is currently no data on the safety of hyaluronic acid injections during breastfeeding and its effects on the child.Related visible skin diseasesUsing hyaluronic acid may worsen the skin condition in people with scleroderma. For this pathology, the topical application of products containing hyaluronic acid is not suitable.

How is hyaluronic acid injection performed?

A small amount of hyaluronic acid is injected under the skin with a fine needle. Depending on the sensitivity to pain and the injection site, a numbing cream may be applied beforehand or local anesthesia may be used in the form of an injection of anesthetic into the skin. When using a local anesthetic, the effects of anesthesia occur within 2-3 minutes.

Where on the face is hyaluronic acid injected?

• Combined with botulinum toxin to treat glabellar lines;
• nasolabial lines and "puppet lines";
• Fine wrinkles around the mouth and lips.

It is important to remember that superficial or deep wrinkles are difficult to treat. In these cases, your doctor may recommend combining hyaluronic acid gel with another medication and skin care of choice.

How long does the hyaluronic acid injection process take?

This process takes 15-60 minutes. But since the lip area is much smaller compared to other injection areas, the working time is also shorter.

How long do the effects of hyaluronic acid treatment last?

Duration of action varies from patient to patient and depends on many factors, including lifestyle, skin type, age, and injection technique. For example, after lip augmentation, at least six months must pass before the next injection.

What skin care products can hyaluronic acid be used with?

Hyaluronic acid is combined with most other ingredients, including peels, retinol, vitamins, and other acids. The only exceptions are acids with a lower pH, such as glycolic acid, as they inhibit the effects of hyaluronic acid and significantly reduce its effectiveness.

What to do after injecting fillers at home

• Avoid massaging or rubbing the treated area for 48 hours after treatment.
• For the first eight hours after surgery, do not touch the treated areas of your face unnecessarily. Afterwards, you can wash your face with soap and put on light makeup.
• Overheating of the skin (tanning beds and sunbathing) and hypothermia should be avoided until the initial redness of the skin subsides.

Can hyaluronic acid be removed after treatment?

No. If you are not satisfied with the results, you can proceed with treatment step by step until you achieve the desired results.

What is biological regeneration

Bioregeneration is a type of mesotherapy that uses higher concentrations of hyaluronic acid. It should not be confused with fillers, which act as filling material for wrinkles and do not provide nutrients to the skin.Bioregeneration can be used on areas around the neck, shoulders, arms, hands and knees.The main goal of this treatment is to fill the skin with hyaluronic acid, stimulating the natural production of collagen, hyaluronic acid and active metabolism under the skin, thus helping to rejuvenate it.To do this, purified hyaluronic acid of non-animal origin is injected into the skin. This means that it is synthesized by bacterial strains of Streptococcus and is completely organic to the human body and causes no adverse reactions. This method of skin rejuvenation is considered easier than other cosmetic procedures, but can be just as effective.Bioregeneration is recommended after 25-30 years, when the amount of natural hyaluronic acid begins to decrease significantly and the skin loses a lot of moisture. This can lead to loss of skin tone and elasticity, increased dryness, and a tendency toward inflammation. Results are visible after the first surgery, but in order to achieve the desired results, you will need to undergo a course of treatment.

What is mesotherapy

Mesotherapy refers to the rejuvenation of tired tissues. The main goal of this technology is to replenish the skin with beneficial substances and nutrients. Because of the injections, the process is deeper and more intense than using creams and masks. Depending on the goals of correction, the doctor will choose ready-made solutions or individual combinations, taking into account the characteristics of the patient's body.Components of mesotherapy can be:

• hyaluronic acid;
• vitamin and mineral complex;
• Amino acids, antioxidants;
• peptide;
• Plant extracts.

The surgery is performed with a very fine needle. Mesotherapy has long-lasting results after the first injection and can help you resolve a range of issues. Its purpose is to improve the overall condition of the skin, normalize microcirculation in cells and intercellular spaces, increase tissue elasticity and eliminate various aesthetic defects. Skin's youthfulness and freshness last for up to ten months and can be maintained with repeated injections.

What to choose – mesotherapy or bioregenerative therapy

There is no clear answer. Bioregenerative injections contain only hyaluronic acid, which is necessary to moisturize and restore damaged tissue in the first place.The mesotherapy cocktail is a comprehensive set of bioactive ingredients that have complex effects on tissues and can address multiple aesthetic concerns simultaneously.Mesotherapy can also help with specific problems, such as:

• Dark circles and bags under the eyes;
• cellulite;
• hair loss;
• scar.

Mesotherapy involves superficial injections of medication to a depth of 2 millimeters and deep punctures.Therefore, mesotherapy would be the best option for patients aged 30 and above, which is especially important when addressing cosmetic concerns related to acne and scarring, while bioregeneration would be the best option for patients above 25 years of age.