Is it worth adding hyaluronic acid to your skin care routine?

Hyaluronic acid is a common ingredient in skin care products (face cream, body and face creams). It is mainly used in moisturizers (face cream, body and face creams), lotions and serums for its ability to hydrate and plump the skin. Hyaluronic acid is also used in injectable dermal fillers to help eliminate wrinkles and add volume to the face and lips. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan that occurs naturally in the skin, connective tissue, eyes, and joints.

Hyaluronic acid, what is it? Hyaluronic acid is an incredibly popular and common ingredient in skin care (face cream, body and face creams) and cosmetic products. Because it has "acid" in its name, it's often mistaken for an exfoliating ingredient, similar to salicylic or glycolic acid. However, hyaluronic acid has little in common with alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids such as these. Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the skin, connective tissues, eyes and joints. It helps to give skin firmness, helps to regenerate tissues and helps to "lubricate" the joints. The highest amount of hyaluronic acid in the body is found in the skin. It is a major component of the extracellular matrix, which is the gel-like substance that surrounds your skin cells. The better-known proteins collagen and elastin are also part of this substance, as are other glycosaminoglycans (a family of polysaccharides or carbohydrates of which hyaluronic acid is a part).
Hyaluronic acid isn't just a substance that surrounds your skin cells. It is very important to keep the skin hydrated. Hyaluronic acid attracts water from the dermis (the deeper layer of the skin) and transfers it to the surface of the skin, the epidermis. Hyaluronic acid and other glycosaminoglycans also affect skin elasticity and tone, cell metabolism, regeneration and healing. As we age, the amount of hyaluronic acid in the skin naturally decreases. Your skin doesn't produce it as efficiently as it used to. This is partly why skin becomes thinner and drier as we age. The amount of hyaluronic acid in the skin begins to decrease sharply after the age of 40.

Advantages
Hyaluronic acid is often listed as an anti-aging ingredient, but that's not entirely accurate. A more accurate description of it should be as a skin moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid is a macromolecule, meaning that its molecules are large in molecular size—too large to be effectively absorbed into the skin. Topical hyaluronic acid will not increase your skin's natural reserves of hyaluronic acid. In fact, hyaluronic acid does not penetrate the skin very well. As a result, it won't have much of an effect on wrinkles. But that doesn't mean it doesn't affect your skin. It has many other benefits like hyaluronic acid products (face cream, body and face creams).
Complete hydration Hyaluronic acid is praised for its ability to improve skin hydration (moisturization) levels. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it attracts water and helps the skin retain water. Apply a hyaluronic acid product (face cream, serum, body and face creams) to the skin, which will help draw moisture from the deeper layers of the skin to hydrate the upper layers of the skin. If you live in a humid area, it can also help draw water from the air into your skin.
Hyaluronic acid products (face cream, serum, body and face creams) also help reduce transepidermal water loss. This is another way to show that this acid helps retain water in your skin instead of letting it evaporate into the air. Amazingly, hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water.

Smooth and glowing skin
While HA won't erase fine lines and wrinkles, the added moisture helps plump the skin, making those lines appear smoother. Also, those wrinkled lines around the eyes and lips are often signs of dry or dehydrated skin. Highly hydrated skin looks less wrinkled and plumper.

Suitable for all skin types
Hyaluronic acid increases the moisture level in the skin without adding oil. By itself, hyaluronic acid is not a greasy-feeling ingredient. It is quite light, so it can be added to non-greasy products (face cream, body and face creams) that feel great on oily skin.
Skin protectant Some research suggests that hyaluronic acid may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, even when used only on the skin. Hyaluronic acid can promote skin regeneration and help it heal. For this reason, moisturizers (face cream, body and face creams) containing hyaluronic acid are often recommended after chemical peels or laser treatments.

Rejuvenates the face
Hyaluronic acid applied topically to the face (face cream, serums, body and face creams) may not reverse the superficial signs of aging, but injectable forms of hyaluronic acid can. Hyaluronic acid can be injected directly into the skin to fill deep lines and wrinkles. It is also used to re-contour the face, add youthful fullness to the cheeks or fill in the lips. Another benefit of hyaluronic acid injection is that it stimulates the skin to produce more collagen, which means it can have long-lasting anti-aging effects.

Choosing the right product
Hyaluronic acid is incredibly popular and is found in many skin care products (face cream, serums, body and face creams), from face washes and face masks to makeup. If you want to get a moisturizing effect from hyaluronic acid, it is best to choose a moisturizing cream (face cream, body and face creams), lotion or serum. These moisturizers (face cream, body and face creams) are a great way to deliver hyaluronic acid to your skin, hydrate, help your skin feel better, and (at least temporarily) help your skin look plumper and younger. Look for hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate on the ingredients label of your skin care product. Sodium hyaluronate, another ingredient you may see in skin care products, is a salt derived from hyaluronic acid. The biggest difference between the two is that sodium hyaluronate is absorbed into the skin much more easily than hyaluronic acid. Ideally, you'll want 1% or more hyaluronic acid in your skin care product. If the percentage is lower, it probably won't do much for your skin. If the product doesn't list the percentage of hyaluronic acid, at least make sure it's high enough on the ingredients list and not one of the last. Most hyaluronic acid moisturizing products (face cream, body and face creams) will be used twice a day, morning and night. Be sure to review the instructions for the specific product and follow them carefully. Apply hyaluronic serums after washing your skin with a cleanser (and toning if you use a toner). Moisturizers (face cream, body and face creams) are applied on top. During the day, your product with SPF (face cream, body and face creams) will be the last step of your skin care. Many people notice a difference in how their skin feels immediately after using a hyaluronic acid product (face cream, body and face creams). However, as with any skin care product (face cream, serum, body and face creams), it takes a few weeks of use before you see the full benefits.

Dermal fillers
If you're looking for even bigger results, injectable dermal fillers are the way to go. Dermal fillers—sometimes called liquid facelifts—provide instant results. Hyaluronic acid is one of the most popular dermal fillers because it is well tolerated. It is a natural component of the skin, so the risk of a negative reaction is very low. The downside, as with all dermal fillers, is that the results are not permanent (permanent). The skin will eventually absorb all the hyaluronic acid. The treatment will need to be repeated to keep the skin or lips plump or wrinkles from reappearing. Generally, the effects of HA fillers last from 6 to 18 months. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be performed at a dermatologist or plastic surgeon's office.

Possible side effects
Hyaluronic acid is a very safe ingredient to use on the skin or as a dermal filler. It is a very gentle material for the skin. The ingredient itself is unlikely to cause any problems. However, it is important to monitor the body's reaction, as with any new skin care product (face cream, serum, body and face creams).
If you experience any irritation or if the product (face cream, serum, body and face creams) burns or stings when you apply it, wash it off and stop using the product. Call your doctor if the irritation does not go away after a few days. Also, some people point out that products containing hyaluronic acid used on the skin have the exact opposite effect: that is, their skin becomes drier. If this happens, make sure you use a separate moisturizer (face cream, body and face creams) (if you only use a hyaluronic acid serum) to restore moisture with emollient ingredients. In any case, you can also try another product (face cream, serum, body and face creams) or brand. Sometimes hyaluronic acid is not suitable for the skin, but another component of a specific product (face cream, serum, body and face creams).
Dermal fillers with hyaluronic acid are also very safe, but in rare cases can cause:

• Redness
• Blueberries
• Pain
• Infection
• Necrosis of the skin (if injected into an artery or compressed)
• Blindness (if injected into an artery and compressed)