Nowadays, we hear the term “hyaluronic acid” in many advertisements concerned with cosmetics and keeping the beauty of the skin. First of all, the question that we have to ask ourselves about is the meaning of this word? And, whether it is naturally found in our body or it should be given as an artificial product?
Hyaluronic acid is also known as (hyaluronan) which is a clear, sticky substance that is naturally produced by your body. The largest amounts of it are found in your skin, connective tissues and eyes. Its main function is to retain water to keep your tissues well-lubricated and moist. The dermatologists say that the mechanism of the hyaluronic acid to preserve the water is through holding a thousand times its weight in water to not only retain all that moisture in our skin and joints but also to prevent all that moisture from evaporating into the air.
Unfortunately, this precious product just like collagen and elastin, the amount of naturally-occurring hyaluronic acid in our bodies declines as we get older. There are, however, ways to help stimulate the production of HA in our bodies through “Eating fruits and veggies with lots of antioxidants that protect the skin from inflammation, in turn, helps the skin retains it.”
Besides, it can be found not only in our nourishment but also in skincare products like creams and serums. Also, it can be injected “fillers” as hyaluronic acid is bound in a gel carrier which holds it in a place where it is injected. With a few pricks of a needle, the gel plumps dipped areas, smooths fine lines and decreases shadows then slowly dissolves over one year.
Like anything else, it has advantages and disadvantages, but its side effects are minimal: you may experience some swelling or bruising that can last for two or three days. The most important thing to remember when getting any kind of filler or injectable is to go to a trained and board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon, because injectables have a high risk as it can be injected too superficially, or in rare cases, into a blood vessel.