Wednesday, 8 June 2011

Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid


( Picture taken from stay-confident.com )

My skin is more skewed towards combination/dehyrdated and moisturisers just doesn't cut out for me. At my current skincare regime, oils are my current effective moisturisers now and I am incorporating products containing hyaluronic acid to increase skin hydration. Honestly, before I would venture into using new products, I would usually do a background check to understand certain ingredients and benefits. Here is a quick background of Hyaluronic Acid.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is part of the glycosaminogly family; it's a complex carbohydrate that's vital to our well-being. Hyaluronic acid fastens onto our collagen and elastin and creates cartilage. It's found in every tissue of our body, and is responsible for carrying out a number of vital functions.

Significance

  • Hyaluronic acid assists in the distribution of nutrients to cells that don't possess a blood supply. Cartilage is one example of such cells. The presence of HA in those cells maintains the lubrication of joints and allows them to preserve water for other tissues. By retaining an adequate amount of water, our joints are less likely to turn out to be fragile and weak. HA also aids in the restoration of skin by maintaining its elastin and collagen, encouraging a healthy appearance. Additionally, HA eliminates waste from cells and manages their movement. This results in an activation of our blood's white cells, reviving the immune system to successfully decrease and combat unwanted bacteria.

Function

  • Hyaluronic acid has become especially popular in both the medical and cosmetic fields. Medical professionals are employing HA to alleviate conditions like arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, dry eyes and pain associated with joint damage. It has also been effective in increasing mobility, alertness, sleep quality, muscle strength, sexual potency, wound healing and bone density.
  • In the cosmetology arena, hyaluronic-acid treatments are used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, facial lines, drooping skin, acne scars and discolorations. Most of these fall into the "anti-aging procedure" category.
Effects

  • Cosmetic products containing HA are also available. It can be found in a variety of skin creams, masks and cleansers. The aim of these products is to rehydrate the skin so it will look supple and smooth. Topical Retinol treatments containing hyaluronic acid are frequently prescribed to treat skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, melasma and rosacea.
-Taken from E-How Health-
Simplified Version
 
Hyaluronic Acid has an incredible water retentive capacity and capable of retaining up to 6,000 times in weight in water. Hyaluronic Acid is:

* Biodegradable
* Non-toxic
* Excellent moisturizer
* Contributes to skin elasticity, toning and smoothness

HA does not penetrate the skin barrier. It forms a thin, light permeable, invisible, visco-elastic surface film. This fixes the moisture on the surface of the skin. The HA film helps to preserve the principal characteristics
of young, healthy skin. The HA film supports the skin.s natural protective mechanism. Since it is an excellent
water reservoir and an ideal lubricant. HA, when incorporated into cosmetics, leads to a perceptible and visible improvement in skin condition.
-Taken from Garden of Wisdom-

Products that I use containing Hyaluronic Acid

Application: In the morning, beneath my face oil and sunscreen.

Application: As a weekly DIY Mask.

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