If you’ve been paying attention to skin care ingredients lately, you’ve likely noticed that hyaluronic acid is everywhere. No clue exactly what it is, what it’s used for or who it’s best suited for? You’re not alone. Ditto if you find the word acid alarming.
If you’ve been paying attention to skin care ingredients lately, you’ve likely noticed that hyaluronic acid is everywhere. No clue exactly what it is, what it’s used for or who it’s best suited for? You’re not alone. Ditto if you find the word acid alarming.
What exactly is hyaluronic acid?
“While this ingredient isn’t new by any means, it’s become popular because of its seemingly endless list of benefits and the fact that it works well for mostly anyone,” says board-certified dermatologist and founder of DermWarehouse Dr. Alan J. Parks. “Hyaluronic acid (HA) has powerful anti-aging properties and is one of the preeminent hydrating ingredients for skin, regardless of your skin type. HA is something that’s naturally found throughout the body and more than 50 percent of the body’s HA is found within the skin tissue. Its most unique characteristic is that it’s able to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it tremendously hydrating.”
If we already have hyaluronic acid in our body naturally, why do we need to buy products that contain it?
Sometimes more is more! “Hyaluronic acid is responsible for keeping skin hydrated and soft. It also helps to prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin. When it’s performing these functions at its maximum capacity, it keeps us looking young. As we age, however, the HA levels in our bodies begin to decrease,” explains Parks. “Once this happens, you’ll begin to notice the visible signs of aging, including dryness and loss of moisture, fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin texture and loss of firmness.”
