Hyaluronic Acid Benefits

Hyaluronic Acid in a Nutshell

Hyaluronic acid is a type of compound that is naturally produced in the body. The highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid in the body are found in the fluids of eyes and joints. Hyaluronic acid also exists within most vertebrate tissues and is known to play a significant role during cell development, wound healing, and regeneration. The amount of hyaluronic acid in our bodies begins to diminish as we age; this is especially significant after the age of 40.

Hyaluronic acid enables cells to retain moisture in the tissue, which keeps the tissue/skin moist and hydrated. In fact, hyaluronic acid molecules are able to absorb up to 1,000 times their own weight in water. Hyaluronic acid also plays an important role in healing damaged tissue.

The Many Uses of Hyaluronic Acid

Improves Hydration

Hyaluronic acid effectively locks in moisture within the skin making it a popular ingredient within skincare. By retaining moisture from its environment, hyaluronic acid improves hydration levels within the skin. It has also been shown to significantly improve skin elasticity within two weeks of using hyaluronic acid skin care products in a study over up to eight weeks of treatment.

Hyaluronic acid has many uses, one of the most common being for the treatment of joint disorders such as osteoarthritis. In this sense, hyaluronic acid is injected or taken by mouth to lubricate joints. By providing extra ‘cushioning’ and reducing friction during movement, this helps to repair the damaged tissue.

Many people are familiar with the use of hyaluronic acid in cosmetic surgery as a filler, often used to create fuller lips or to fill in lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid is also often applied to the skin as a moisturizer and to help heal wounds and burns.

Hyaluronic acid has also been approved for use in some eye surgeries (such as cataract removal or repairing a detached retina) to help replace fluids that occur naturally in the eye.

Hyaluronic acid plays an important role in the healing and hydrating of tissue; in fact, these molecules are able to absorb up to 1,000 times their own weight in water

The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a water-loving substance that provides moisture and a soothing effect. Studies have also found hyaluronic acid to be effective in accelerating the wound healing process and helping to repair damaged skin and mucosa.

Many products utilize derivatives of hyaluronic acid to help initiate moisturization and healing for various uses (as mentioned above). As another example, when we look at peri-menopausal changes, women may experience vaginal dryness (inadequate lubrication of the vaginal walls) due to decreased estrogen secretions. Vaginal tissue becomes dry, thin, and less elastic which lends itself to being more fragile and may tear and/or bleed. This often results in discomfort such as itching and burning, increased vaginal infections, and pain during sexual activity. In such a situation, the healing effects of hyaluronic acid may be helpful if used topically.

Effective Relief from Vaginal Dryness

Comparative studies have shown that hyaluronic acid treatments help relieve symptoms of vaginal atrophy and vaginal dryness equivalent to estrogen treatment. Hyaluronic acid further helps with cellular maturation and lowers the pH level in the vagina. It improves skin moisture and provides much-needed relief among women with genitourinary symptoms of menopause (GSM).[i]

[i] US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4709811/

Women experiencing vaginal dryness may benefit from the healing effects of hyaluronic acid, alongside the ability to retain moisture in the tissue to provide hydration

The Discovery of Hyaluronic Acid

Though it may seem that we are just hearing about it very recently, hyaluronic acid was first discovered over 80 years ago, and has been used in various areas of medicine and cosmetology.

1934	First discovery of hyaluronic acid by German Pharmacist Karl Meyer and his assistant John Palmer, when they isolated the compound from the eye of a cow
1942	First commercial use of hyaluronic acid by Endre Balazs when he applied for a patent to use it as an egg substitute
1996	Hyaluronic acid was found to be helpful in the treatment of connective tissue disorders, and also to help speed up recovery of sprained ankles or joint problems in athletes; it also began being used in the cosmetics industry
2002	Hyaluronic acid (as an injectable) was brought to the public’s attention when used to treat an injury in French tennis player, Amelie Mauresmo
2003	US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved hyaluronic acid as a wrinkle treatment
Present	The effects of hyaluronic acid on different conditions continue to be studied today.

Sources:

Hyaluronic Acid. WebMD.
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Hyaluronan Minireview Series. Journal of Biological Chemistry.
http://www.jbc.org/content/277/39/e27

Dermal Fillers: The History of Hyaluronic Acid. Cosmetic Doctor. 2013
http://www.cosmeticdoctor.ie/dermal-fillers-the-history-of-hyaluronic-acid

Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012 Jul 1; 4(3): 253–258.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886/

Necas et al. Hyaluronic Acid (Hyaluronan): A Review. Veterinarni Medicina, 52, 2008 (8): 397-411.
http://www.vri.cz/docs/vetmed/53-8-397.pdf

Calve et al. A Transitional Extracellular Matrix Instructs Cell Behaviour During Muscle Regeneration. 2010 Aug 1;344(1):259-71.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4157629/

Tammi et al. Transcriptional and Post-Translational Regulation of Hyaluronan Synthesis. 2011 May;278(9):1419-28.
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