What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid  (INCI: hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate) is a very important component of connective tissue. It has the ability to bind very large amounts of water relative to its mass (up to six liters of water per gram).

When hyaluronic acid is lacking in the skin…

Tissue containing hyaluronic acid is very pressure-resistant. A well-known example is the nucleus pulposus, the gelatinous core of the intervertebral discs, which contains hyaluronic acid and can thus carry large parts of the body weight. Hyaluronic acid is also the main component of synovial fluid and acts as a lubricant in all joint movements. In addition, hyaluronic acid is found in the dermis, for example, and thus ensures the skin’s firmness.

With age, there is a significant decrease in the hyaluronic acid content of the skin. This, together with the collagen degradation that is now also starting, leads to the loss of the filling material between the skin cells. The dermis loses volume and shrinks. The result:  wrinkles  appear.

All-rounder hyaluronic acid with immediate and long-term effects

The sodium salt of hyaluronic acid is used in cosmetics as an  active ingredient  in care products and works here primarily because of its very effective moisture retention. Because of the strong effect, very small doses of around 0.1 percent are sufficient to achieve an immediate smoothing effect. Other ingredients are said to stimulate the skin’s own hyaluronic acid production, which can also lead to a wrinkle-filling effect.

Hyaluronic acid preparations are also used for wrinkle injections or for lip injections (enlargement). A viscous gel made of long-chain molecules is usually used for this purpose, which the body breaks down very slowly. New tests show that hyaluronic acid injections not only have an immediate effect, but also stimulate collagen synthesis.