Hyaluronic acid has become a sought-after ingredient in anti-ageing treatments. Not only can it now be found in a host of topical anti-ageing products including serums and moisturisers but it is also well known as a dermal filler that helps plump and rejuvenate areas such as the lips or cheeks.
What is Hyaluronic acid and how exactly does it work on your skin?
What is Hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule that is naturally produced in the human body. The largest amounts of Hyaluronic acid are found in the skin, followed by the eyes and the connective tissue. Hyaluronic Acid has a unique capacity for retaining water and can hold more than 1,000 times its weight in water.
What does Hyaluronic acid do in our bodies?
Within the body, Hyaluronic acid has several key functions including helping with tissue repair, lubricating joints and regenerating cells. Its main function, however, is to hydrate. Hyaluronic acid absorbs water from the air around us, drawing it into the skin to create an aqueous layer that helps the skin look plump and hydrated. Hyaluronic acid also helps to reduce damage to our skin by drawing water in to plump up skin tissue, promoting collagen synthesis and binding moisture into the skin.
Why is Hyaluronic acid so popular in anti-ageing treatments?
Given its hydration-boosting properties, it is not hard to see why Hyaluronic acid is popular in anti-ageing treatments. As we age, levels of Hyaluronic acid fall dramatically. This, of course, causes the skin to lose its elasticity and firmness. As Hyaluronic acid’s main function is to attract and retain water in the dermal tissue, it is important to boost Hyaluronic acid in the skin in order to promote moisture and firmness. And as it is a naturally occurring substance in the body, adverse reactions to it are rare.
How can we boost Hyaluronic acid levels?
Hyaluronic acid can be applied to the skin in the form of cleansers, serums and moisturisers. The most effective way to increase Hyaluronic acid content in the skin, however, is through injections. Hyaluronic acid injections are the second most popular injectable (after Botox) and commonly used dermal fillers, adding volume to specific parts of the face such as the cheeks or lips.
This means Hyaluronic acid can be injected directly into problem areas in a quick, non-invasive procedure with the results immediately evident. Wrinkles and fine lines appear smoothed and the face is more contoured. Hyaluronic Acid is also used in Profhilo, an injectable anti-ageing treatment containing the highest concentrations of stabilised Hyaluronic acid on the market. It works differently from fillers as its structure allows it to flow over an extended area, rather than in a targeted section.
As understanding of the role of Hyaluronic acid within the human body has deepened, so too has the popularity of anti-ageing treatments containing it. You can expect the popularity of Hyaluronic acid treatments and products to grow in the future too.
