What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic Acid which is also known as hyaluronan is a clear substance or a gooey textured liquid that your body produces naturally. A larger amount of hyaluronic acid is found on your skin, eyes and connective tissues.
The main function of hyaluronic acid is to retain the water levels in your skin to make your skin well-hydrated moist and provide lubrication.
There is a variety of uses of hyaluronic acid. Many people use it as a supplement and many use it in making topical serums , injections and other skin applicators like eye drops.
According to scientific researches and feedback provided by the customers who used hyaluronic acid, here are the primary benefits of hyaluronic acid serum.
1. Promotes a healthier and more supple skin.
Hyaluronic acid supplements can help your skin look and feel more supple. It can help you increase skin moisture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Topical treatments can soothe redness, while injections can make skin appear firmer.
Nearly half of hyaluronic acid in your body is present in your skin where it bind and helps to retain water inside for a better moist look. However, the natural aging process and exposure to things like ultraviolet radiation from the sun, tobacco smoke and pollution can decrease its amounts in the skin Taking hyaluronic acid supplements may prevent this decline by giving your body extra amounts to incorporate into the skin.
Doses of 120–240 mg per day for at least one month have been shown to significantly increase skin moisture and reduce dry skin in adults.
Hydrated skin also helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, which may explain why several studies show that supplementing with it can make skin appear smoother.
2. Speeds up wound healing.
Hyaluronic acid also plays an important role in healing wounds. It is naturally present in your skin, but the concentration level increases when there is damage on your skin that is in need of repair.
Its helps wounds heal faster by regulating inflammation levels (Inflammation is a natural process that helps your body heal and defend itself from harm. and signaling your body to build more blood vessels in the damaged area.
Applying it to skin wounds has shown a visible reduction in size of wounds and decreasing pain faster than a placebo or no treatment at all.
It also has some antibacterial properties that help reduce the risk of infection when applied directly to open wounds.
However, since oral supplements boost the levels of hyaluronic acid found in the skin, it’s reasonable to suspect they may provide some benefit.
3. Relieves Joint Pain and Keep Lubricated
Hyaluronic acid is also found in the joints, where it keeps the space between your bones well lubricated
When the joints are lubricated, the bones are less likely to grind against each other and cause uncomfortable pain.
Hyaluronic acid supplements are very helpful for people suffering from osteoarthritis, a type of degenerative joint disease caused by wear and tear on the joints over time.
Taking 80–200 mg daily for at least two months has been shown to significantly reduce knee pain in people with osteoarthritis, especially those between the ages of 40 and 70 years old (according to trusted medical researches).
It can also be injected directly into the joints for pain relief. However, an analysis of over 12,000 adults found only a modest reduction in pain and a greater risk of adverse effects.
Some research shows that pairing oral hyaluronic acid supplements with injections can help extend pain-relieving benefits and increase the amount of time between shots.
4. Relieves Dry Eyes Discomfort
Approximately 1 out of 7 older adults suffer from symptoms of dry eye due to reduced tear production or tears evaporating too quickly.
Since it is excellent at retaining moisture, it’s often used to treat dry eye.
Eye drops containing 0.2–0.4% hyaluronic acid have been shown to reduce dry eye symptoms. Contact lenses that contain slow-release hyaluronic acid are also being developed as a possible treatment for dry eyes.
In addition, hyaluronic acid eye drops are frequently used during eye surgery to reduce inflammation and speed wound healing. While applying them directly to the eyes has been shown to reduce dry eyes symptoms and improve overall eye health, it is unclear whether oral supplements have the same effects.
To date, no studies have examined the effects of hyaluronic acid supplements on dry eye, but it may be a future area of research.
5. Preserve Bone Strength
New animal research has begun to investigate the effects of hyaluronic acid supplements on bone health.
Two studies have found that hyaluronic acid supplements can help slow the rate of bone loss in rats with osteopenia, the beginning stage of bone loss that precedes osteoporosis .
Two studies have found that hyaluronic acid supplements can help slow the rate of bone loss in rats with osteopenia, the beginning stage of bone loss that precedes osteoporosis.
While its effects on human bone health have not yet been studied, early animal and test-tube studies are promising.
Side Effects and Precautions
Hyaluronic acid is generally very safe to use, with few reported side effects. Since the body naturally produces it, allergic reactions are very rare. One study in 60 people with osteoarthritis who took 200 mg daily for one year reported no negative side effects.
However, its effects during pregnancy or breastfeeding have not been thoroughly studied, so these groups should be cautious and avoid supplementing with it.
There is also some evidence that cancer cells are sensitive to hyaluronic acid and taking supplements could make them grow faster.
Hyaluronic acid injections into the skin or joints have a higher risk of side effects. However, negative reactions are mostly associated with the injection procedure, rather than hyaluronic acid itself.