A substance that your body produces naturally, hyaluronic acid (HA), has several benefits for your skin. But what exactly is it? Where does it come from, and how can it be used for your skin?
The human body produces HA naturally. The most common areas to find this slippery substance are within our joints, eyes, and skin. In the joints, its main job is to provide lubrication to keep the bones from grinding against one another during movement. The eyes require it to keep them well hydrated. The skin manufactures it to maintain moisturization and elasticity.
HA is a humectant substance that retains water. Our skin can benefit greatly from HA because of its ability to increase and maintain hydration to assist the skin to retain its elasticity and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. It can also help wounds heal faster and reduce scarring.
How is HA Made Outside of The Human Body?
This useful substance is commonly manufactured by a process called fermentation from bacteria (group C streptococci) and yeast. It can then be incorporated into topical skincare products for commercial use.
HA can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water which lends itself well to uses in topical skin and beauty products as well as injectable dermal fillers.
How Does HA Benefit Your Skin?
The most notable benefit of using an HA product on your skin is its ability to increase skin hydration because it helps to attract and retain moisture and increase volume. Well-hydrated skin is plumper which also helps to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Skin that has good elasticity appears firmer, more youthful, and refreshed.
Another added benefit of HA is collagen production. Collagen, as we know, is the main component of skin and helps the skin to maintain its structure and assists with healing. This can also help with conditions such as acne scarring.
Many moisturizers on the market utilize HA as one of their ingredients for hydration and improving skin texture. It also plays a role to help repair the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss, improving flaking and dryness.
HA can also help reduce irritation and dryness from some topical medications, such as tretinoin which is used for acne and anti-aging.
Is There A Right or Wrong Way to Use HA?
Since we know that HA draws moisture into the skin, it makes sense that this is not a product that you want to apply to completely dry skin. If you are using a plain HA serum, it is best to apply it just after cleansing when your face is still damp to draw the moisture into your skin. We also recommend applying a moisturizer over HA to seal it all in. The goal is to pull moisture into the skin to achieve the benefits described earlier in this blog.
On the flip side, if you live in a dry climate without sufficient humidity or apply pure HA to dehydrated or dry skin without moisture being present, it can actually pull moisture from the deep layers of the skin causing the opposite effect and drying out your skin. This is the reason why it is better to use it in combination with a moisturizer instead of on its own.
Come and See The Derm NP For More Tips!
As a Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner, The Derm NP is available to answer skin care questions that you may have. For example, if you have acne, or sensitive skin, we are ready to consult with you on sunscreen options that may most meet your needs. Or, maybe you are looking for options to offer the best anti-aging benefits for your skin. For just $37 for a telehealth visit, you can rest assured that you are getting skincare advice from an expert without breaking the bank.
