Hyaluronic acid is perhaps one of the most famous beauty ingredients. Even people far from the beauty industry have heard about it. However, often knowledge about hyaluronic acid is limited to the fact that it reduces wrinkles. In reality, everything is not so simple.
What is hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is the most versatile "beauty molecule. "It was discovered in 1934 by Carl Meyer and his assistant John Palmer.
Hyaluronic acid is found in bones, connective tissue, cartilage, hair follicles and skin. At the same time, almost half of the hyaluronic acid is present in the skin, where it, acting like a magnet, binds to water, slowing down the rate of its evaporation and helping cells retain moisture. Just 1g of hyaluronic acid has the impressive ability to hold up to 6L of water. Add to this the ability to regulate moisture levels within cells and you have a phenomenal cellular component. It allows the skin to maintain a high level of moisture, remain elastic and healthy.
Thus, hyaluronic acid has three main effects:
- anti-aging;
- moisturizing;
- wound healing.
Hyaluronic acid can be destroyed by free radicals under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, tobacco smoke and a polluted environment.
How to understand that 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 moisture. Dehydrated skin has an uneven structure, is dotted with fine wrinkles and looks dull.
In order for the skin to remain soft, elastic and glowing, starting from the age of 25, you can include creams and preparations with hyaluronic acid in your daily care, and after 30 years, also hyaluronic serum.
Hyaluronic Acid Supplements
If there is a lack of hyaluronic acid, taking appropriate supplements is recommended. Studies have shown that taking 120-240 mg of hyaluronic acid per day for at least one month significantly improves skin hydration and reduces dryness. Dietary supplements with hyaluronic acid can be taken from the age of 20.
Why don't hyaluronic acid products work?
If the skin is sufficiently hydrated, products containing hyaluronic acid may clump upon application, meaning that there is no need to use this component at this time.
If after using a cream or serum with hyaluronic acid there is a feeling of a film on the skin, then the skin does not need hyaluronic acid.
What skin type are products with hyaluronic acid suitable for?
There are three main skin types:
- normal;
- dry;
- fatty.
Skin of any type can experience conditions of dehydration and sensitivity. That is, both oily and normal skin can be dehydrated. It is important not to confuse dehydration with dry skin type. The cause of dry skin is a lack of lipids, not water.
What names can hyaluronic acid have on packaging?
Hyaluronic acid has the following names:
- hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid;
- acetylated hyaluronate;
- sodium hyaluronate;
- sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Which skin care products contain hyaluronic acid
Serums
They have a light texture, minimal composition and are distinguished by the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid. In addition, the texture of the serum allows hyaluronic acid to penetrate the skin faster. It is best to use a combination of large and small molecules to provide immediate hydration to the top layer of skin and longer lasting effects on the lower epidermis.
How to properly use hyaluronic acid serum
It is very important to apply hyaluronic acid serum correctly. The fact is that if you apply a serum with hyaluronic acid to dry skin in a humid room without subsequent application of cream, the serum will draw moisture from the air and create a feeling of tightness without drying out the face. If the skin is moisturized and the room is dry, the hyaluronic acid present on the surface of the face will draw water from the skin and evaporate it into the air, creating a feeling of dryness.
Therefore, it is important to apply a hyaluronic acid serum to slightly damp skin - you can spray your face with thermal water or not completely dry it with a towel, and after the serum immediately apply a moisturizer to "seal" the hyaluronic acid into the skin. This way the moisturizing effect will be maximum. This scheme is suitable for any skin type.
Cleansing products
Syndents with sodium hyaluronate will help remove makeup, dirt and excess sebum. The product is applied to damp skin, then washed off.
Lotion with sodium hyaluronate
Can be used for both face and body.
Gel with sodium hyaluronate
The gel should be applied to the skin until completely absorbed.
Face cream
Hyaluronic acid is a "team player" that works best when combined with a cream.
What are the side effects of using hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is perhaps the most harmless ingredient for the skin in terms of side effects. Since hyaluronic acid is a normal part of the skin, an allergic reaction to it is very rare.
The use of this acid, unlike glycolic, salicylic and others, is not aimed at renewing the epidermis, but at moisturizing and maintaining the hydrolipid mantle of the skin. Therefore, it does not "expose" the skin and does not provoke redness. Its use when applied topically does not stimulate skin exfoliation processes.
If side effects occur after using a product containing hyaluronic acid, you should pay attention to the composition of the product - allergies may occur to other ingredients. This reaction may result from using too high a concentration of hyaluronic acid. Therefore, to avoid irritation or dryness, it is recommended to avoid hyaluronic acid concentrations above 2%.
It's also wise to do a preliminary "patch test" - apply a small amount of any new product to the back of your wrist and evaluate for side effects for 24 hours. If you experience any side effects after using hyaluronic acid, you should consult a dermatologist.
During pregnancy or breastfeeding, the use of external preparations containing hyaluronic acid is safe.
What should hyaluronic acid be?
The benefits of hyaluronic acid directly depend on its molecular weight and concentration. The diameter of the hyaluronic acid is also important as it determines the ability of the ingredient to penetrate the skin.
Molecular weight is measured in so-called atomic mass units—daltons, or kDa. Hyaluronic acid weighing from 50 to 1000 kDa is most beneficial for the skin; a weight of about 130 kDa is considered optimal. Exceeding this indicator has no qualitative significance.
Why does the 130 kDa weight have the maximum effect?
In one study, researchers evaluated the skin effects of hyaluronic acid with different molecular weights, including 50, 130, 300, 800 and 2000 kDa. A month after starting to use topical preparations with different weights of acid, experts found that using 130 kDa was the most effective - skin elasticity increased by 20%. Both the 50 kDa group and the 130 kDa group experienced significant reductions in wrinkle depth and skin roughness after 60 days. All other molecular weights also increased skin elasticity and hydration, but to a lesser extent.
What components 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 and promote maximum hydration, protection and restoration of the skin.
There's another reason why these ingredients work well together - too much vitamin C can cause irritation, dry skin and even acne, and hyaluronic acid not only soothes and repairs the skin, helping to create a moisture barrier, but acts as an excellent courier, deliveringvitamin C to cells.
Other Medical Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid
In addition to its excellent cosmetic effect in skin care, sodium hyaluronate has other medical indications for use.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Hyaluronic acid is found in joint fluid and cartilage. However, with osteoarthritis, the levels of sodium hyaluronate in the joints become low. A sodium hyaluronate injection may help with osteoarthritis in the knee. The medicine is injected directly into the knee and helps reduce pain in this area.
Eye surgery
Sodium hyaluronate drops are useful in procedures such as:
- corneal transplant surgery;
- correction of glaucoma;
- secondary implantation of an intraocular lens;
- cataract surgery.
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects, sodium hyaluronate reduces dry eyes that may occur after surgery.
Nasal spray with sodium hyaluronate
This product is effective for moisturizing and regenerating the mucous membrane of the sinuses.
Hyaluronic acid injections
Injectable wrinkle fillers can provide a lifted appearance to the skin in a gentler manner than a traditional facelift. Most fillers or fillers fill in hollows, lines and wrinkles in less than 30 minutes and provide results that can last 4 months to a year.
What effect do injections have?
The scope of application of hyaluronic acid gel is wide:
- wrinkle smoothing
- lip augmentation
- facial contour modeling
- intensive skin hydration
The most popular category of wrinkle fillers is hyaluronic acid. Each type of drug works differently and produces different results.
Side effects
Side effects from these injections are rare, but may include:
- redness;
- edema;
- bruising at the injection site.
The filler may also appear under the skin as tiny bumps, but this will go away within a day.
If you take blood thinners, the injection site will bleed longer and may cause slight bruising.
What you should know before injection with hyaluronic acid
- You should not be guided solely by the price of the procedure.
- If you are offered wrinkle correction at a significantly lower price, it is possible that the craftsmanship or quality of the product leaves much to be desired.
- The procedure must be performed exclusively in a medical center.
- Procedures must be performed exclusively in a medical setting, regardless of who is performing them.
- Always ask for the name of the drug.
- Before the injection, the specialist 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 daily. This will help prolong the effect of the filler and protect against post-inflammatory pigment changes that may occur at the injection site.
Special precautions when performing hyaluronic acid injections
Pregnancy
There is no data confirming the safety of hyaluronic acid injections during pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
There is also no data yet on the safety of injections with hyaluronic acid during breastfeeding and their effect on the child.
Associated visible skin diseases
Application of hyaluronic acid may worsen the skin condition in people with scleroderma. With this pathology, topical use of products with hyaluronic acid is inappropriate.
How is hyaluronic acid injection performed?
Hyaluronic acid is injected under the skin with a thin needle in small volumes. Depending on sensitivity to pain and the injection site, it is possible to pre-apply an anesthetic cream or use local anesthesia in the form of injecting the skin with an anesthetic. When using a topical anesthetic, the anesthetic effect occurs within 2-3 minutes.
In which areas of the face are injections with hyaluronic acid used?
- glabellar lines in combination with botulinum toxin;
- nasolabial lines and "marionette lines";
- fine wrinkles around the mouth and lips.
It must be remembered that superficial or very deep wrinkles are difficult to treat. In these cases, the doctor may recommend a combination of hyaluronic acid gel with another drug and subsequent selection of skin care.
How long does the hyaluronic acid injection procedure take?
The procedure takes 15–60 minutes. But since the lip area is much smaller compared to other injection areas, the duration of work on it is also shorter.
How long does the effect of hyaluronic acid treatment last?
The 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 of the drug.
What skin care treatments can hyaluronic acid be combined with?
Hyaluronic acid combines with most other ingredients, including peels, retinols, vitamins and other acids. The only exception is acids with low pH levels, such as glycolic acid, because they can inhibit the action of hyaluronic acid and significantly reduce its effectiveness.
What to do after injecting fillers at home
- Avoid massaging or rubbing treated areas for the first 48 hours after treatment.
- During the first eight hours after the procedure, you should not touch the treated areas of your face unnecessarily. Later, you can wash your face with soap and apply light makeup.
- Until the initial redness and swelling of the skin decreases, extreme heating of the skin (tanning beds and sunbathing) and hypothermia should be avoided.
Is it possible to remove hyaluronic acid after treatment?
No. If you are not satisfied with the result, you can gradually carry out treatment until the desired effect is achieved.
What is biorevitalization
Biorevitalization is a form of mesotherapy using higher concentrations of hyaluronic acid. It should not be confused with filler, which acts as a filling material for wrinkles and does not provide nutrients to the skin.
Biorevitalization can be used on the neck, décolleté, arms, hands and areas around the knees.
The main goal of the therapy is to fill the skin with hyaluronic acid, which stimulates the natural production of collagen, hyaluronic acid and active metabolism under the skin, which contributes to its rejuvenation.
To do this, purified hyaluronic acid of non-animal origin is injected into the skin. This means that it is synthesized from bacteriological strains of streptococcus, is completely organic for the human body and does not cause adverse reactions. This method of skin rejuvenation is considered easier than other cosmetic procedures, but no less effective.
Biorevitalization is recommended after 25–30 years, when the amount of native hyaluronic acid begins to decrease significantly and the skin intensively loses moisture. This leads to loss of tone and elasticity, increased dryness and a tendency to inflammation. The result is visible after the first procedure, but for the ideal effect you need to undergo a course of treatment.
What is mesotherapy
Mesotherapy is the rejuvenation of tired tissue. The main goal of the technique is to enrich the skin with beneficial substances and nutrients. Thanks to injections, this process goes deeper and more intensely than with the use of creams and masks. Depending on the goals of the correction, the doctor selects a ready-made solution or composes it individually, taking into account the characteristics of the patient’s body.
Components of mesotherapy can be:
- hyaluronic acid;
- vitamin and mineral complexes;
- amino acids, antioxidants;
- peptides;
- phytoextracts.
The procedure is performed with very thin needles. Mesotherapy has a long-lasting effect after the first injection session and allows you to solve a whole range of problems. It is aimed at improving the general condition of the skin, normalizing microcirculation in cells and intercellular space, increasing tissue elasticity and eliminating various aesthetic defects. The youthfulness and freshness of the skin lasts for up to ten months and can be maintained with repeated injections.
What to choose - mesotherapy or biorevitalization
There is no clear answer. Injections for biorevitalization contain only hyaluronic acid, which is necessary, first of all, to moisturize and restore damaged tissues.
Mesotherapy cocktails are a whole complex of biologically active components that have a complex effect on tissues and can solve several aesthetic problems at once.
Mesotherapy will also help where there are specific problems, such as:
- dark circles and bags under the eyes;
- cellulite;
- hair loss;
- scarring.
Mesotherapy includes both superficial injection of drugs to a depth of 2 mm and deep punctures.
Thus, for patients 30 years of age and older, mesotherapy is optimal, which is especially relevant when solving cosmetic problems associated with acne and scars, and biorevitalization will be the best option for patients over 25 years of age.