I just love what Hyaluronic Acid does for the skin. It makes skin simply amazing by hydrating and plumping out fine lines and wrinkles. You hear me banging on about the importance of vitamins and anti-oxidants in the repair of skin and maintenance of healthy skin, but this time I want to really take a look at the features and benefits of Hyaluronic Acid and how exciting this molecule is for skin hydration and ageing.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is part of a group of substances called Glycosaminoglycans (GAGS) that assist in helping maintain collagen and elastin by retaining moisture. HA can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water and by increasing the water in the skin then the result is a reduction in lines and wrinkles. By increasing water and keeping the dermis at its optimum volume, this cushions our cells and structures in a protective gel. As our bodies are made up of 70% water you can see how important this is for really having a beautiful skin.
HA is important both as an internal supplement and external application as it has a high turnover rate. It only last 2 – 3 days. The results of a HA deficient skin?
Personally, I’ve seen many skins, particularly as we age, that are completely depleted in HA. Levels of HA typically start depleting after the age of 40 and some over the age of 60 have none. Dr Des Fernandes, founder of Environ, tells us more. “We break down about a third of our hyaluronic acid every day so we can easily fall into a deficit if we expose our skin too much to the sun. UV rays destroy it, this causes a thin skin with poor keratinocyte activity.” UV isn’t the only culprit for depleting HA but there are other external aggressors such as pollution, smoking and alcohol so it’s important to safeguard levels in order to achieve plump, youthful skin.
What are the benefits of a HA enriched skin?
“This has been achieved via soft tissue augmentation, improved skin hydration, collagen and elastin stimulation, and face volume restoration” states a team of scientists who recently undertook a review of research on HA.
There are lots of products on the market containing HA. This isn’t a new ingredient, but it is still an exciting one as it really does work. There is stacks of scientific evidence. However, there is a caveat here. It works only in the right molecular structure and ideally with either home devices that can assist in the delivery of these molecules into the skin or in salon treatments.
The majority of HA in the cosmetic industry is made up of molecules that are just too large to penetrate the skin – FACT. So, don’t waste your money on something that is just only going to sit on the skin’s surface and give it a lovely glow. If you really want to transform your skin, you need to look at products that are going to penetrate much deeper.
At Sarah Hurst Skin Clinic we have a range of solutions, from supplements to topical skincare, homecare devices to in salon treatments all maximising your skin with HA and ensuring that you fully receive the benefits of this amazing molecule in the skin.