Hyaluronic acid is traded as a wonder weapon in anti-aging. This endogenous substance is also used in therapy for problems with joints. No wonder, because hyaluronic acid is a legendary active ingredient with versatile applications in the body. Chemically, hyaluronic acid is a chain of sugar molecules. It is precisely this fact that makes hyaluronic acid interesting for both medicine and cosmetics. This is because sugar has the property of binding water.
Hyaluronic acid against wrinkles
Hyaluronic acid can bind about 6,000 times more water than its own weight. Ideal, therefore, especially for use against the visible signs of age: wrinkles. But hyaluronic acid is not only crucial for beauty. Even though the largest component of hyaluronic acid in the body is stored in the skin, where it holds the cells together, it is present almost everywhere in the body. In joints, hyaluronic acid is responsible for suppleness as well as mobility, and in the vitreous humour of the eye it keeps the lens fluid. However, from the age of 25, the body’s own production of hyaluronic acid begins to decline. At the age of 60, about only 10% of the initial stock of hyaluronic acid is still detectable in the body.
Joints: hyaluronic acid can help
The joint surfaces of the body are composed of cartilage mass. These are kept supple as well as intact by hyaluronic acid in the function of joint fluid. This is because the cartilage mass is surrounded by hyaluronic acid, which provides optimum joint mobility as well as protection. However, with increasing age as well as particular stress, wear and tear can be seen in joints. This wear and tear of the joints as well as cartilage mass can lead to health problems in joints, such as the knee. According to experts, about 40 million Europeans suffer from wear and tear of the joints, also called osteoarthritis. But not only older people know the diagnosis of osteoarthritis, more and more young people have problems with their joints.
Side effects of hyaluronic acid therapy
Often, the degradation of cartilage or the damage to the joints has already progressed so far that, from a medical point of view, a surgical intervention must be recommended. However, to make the wait for the date of the surgery as pleasant as possible for the patient, the affected joints can be enriched in advance with synthetic hyaluronic acid. This then has the effect of nourishing the cartilage layer with sufficient joint fluid again, potentially improving mobility. In medical circles, however, hyaluronic acid therapy is controversial. On the one hand, because the hyaluronic acid supplied is degraded again in a relatively short time, and on the other hand, because desired effects are mainly seen only in the case of incipient arthrosis. Also, there is always the language of possible side effects on the joints, especially due to inflammation.
Taut as well as radiant skin
Hyaluronic acid causes the skin to appear clear, plump as well as radiant due to its moisturizing as well as moisture-binding properties. For this reason, the substance is popularly used in wrinkle injections. Hyaluronic acid is injected into the deeper layer of the skin, also known as the dermis. The effect is visible immediately, but depending on the concentration, hyaluronic acid degrades after three to six months. Nevertheless, the use of hyaluronic acid in anti-aging is very popular because the possible side effects are also low. The injection may cause swelling or bruising. In addition to the direct injection of hyaluronic acid, it can also be supplied to the body via capsules, gel or a cream. However, the hyaluronic acid then cannot reach the deeper layers of the skin, so the effect is also somewhat less than with wrinkle injections. With the help of hyaluronic acid, not only wrinkles can be treated, but also lips, ears, the nose or even breasts as well as nipples can be modeled.
Conclusion: hyaluronic acid
An addition of hyaluronic acid can also help with dry eyes. In the form of eye drops or even as a solution sprayed on the closed eyelid, inflammation of the eyes as well as redness can be avoided by hyaluronic acid. The conclusion to be drawn is that, especially in cosmetics, the concentration of the active ingredient hyaluronic acid contained in capsules or creams is important in order to actually achieve the desired effect.In medicine as well as cosmetics, hyaluronic acid is popular not only because of its extreme water-binding ability, but also because the risk of side effects is relatively low, as it is generally very well tolerated. Those who want to float like on clouds can also purchase gel insoles with hyaluronic acid for their shoes and thus additionally do something good for their feet.