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 missing from the skin …
Tissues containing hyaluronic acid are very resistant to pressure. A well-known example is the nucleus pulposus, the gelatinous nucleus of the intervertebral discs, which contains hyaluronic acid and can thus support large portions of the body’s 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 also ensures the firmness of the skin.
With age, there is a significant decrease in the hyaluronic acid content of the skin. This, together with the collagen degradation that now also sets in, leads to the loss of the filler material located 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 skin care products and is effective here primarily due to its very effective moisture retention. Due to its strong effect, very low dosages starting at approximately 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 lip injections (augmentation). For this purpose, one usually uses a viscous gel of long-chain molecules that is broken down very slowly by the body. New tests show that hyaluronic acid injections not only achieve an immediate effect, but also that collagen synthesis is additionally stimulated.
