Hyaluronic Acid: What It Is, Benefits, Expert tips, Products

By Mikayla Cherneski RN

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance that keeps our bodies running smoothly. It is a type of sugar molecule that holds a large amount of water, acting like a sponge to provide hydration and plumpness. A hyaluronic acid molecule can hold up to 1000x of its weight in water!

In our bodies, hyaluronic acid is found in the highest concentrations in our skin, eyes, and joints. HA in joints acts as a lubricant and shock absorber, reducing friction and allowing smooth joint movement. In our eyes, HA plays a vital role in ensuring proper lubrication, hydration, and overall health of the eyes, contributing to clear vision and comfortable eye function.

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In the skin, hyaluronic acid is crucial in maintaining hydration and elasticity. HA helps maintain moisture levels, keeping it hydrated, supple, and firm; it also supports collagen and elastin fibers, essential for skin elasticity and a youthful appearance.

As the aging process takes its toll on our skin’s functionality, the HA content gradually diminishes, and existing HA molecules become less effective at maintaining hydration. This decline of HA leads to changes in the skin’s appearance, such as dryness and wrinkles, with a loss of volume, elasticity, and overall radiance.

SKIN Clinics offers medical-grade skincare and innovative treatments to effectively replenish HA levels to restore a more youthful, smooth, and rejuvenated appearance to the skin.

Benefits of hyaluronic acid in the skin:

Hydrates dry skin
Firms the skin
Refines skin texture
Smoothes fine lines and wrinkles
Enhances skin’s protective barrier
Gives an overall healthy-looking complexion

When shopping for skincare products to improve your skin’s hyaluronic acid levels, look for the ingredient sodium hyaluronate. In the skincare world, sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences.

As a derivative of hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate is more stable. It has a lower molecular weight than hyaluronic acid, allowing it to penetrate the skin deeper, where hydration is needed most.

In general, smaller molecules can penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin. In contrast, larger molecules tend to work primarily on the surface. This distinction explains why serums, with their smaller molecule size, are quickly absorbed by the skin, while oils tend to be slower to absorb and remain on the skin’s surface.

Products to increase hyaluronic acid levels:
SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque
ZO Skin Health Renewal Créme
ZO Skin Health Hydrating Cleanser

Skin expert tip: Apply your HA skincare product to slightly damp skin. Top with a moisturizer or oil of your choice to lock in the ultimate skin hydration.

Not only can we increase the skin’s hydration levels with skincare, but we can replace hyaluronic acid directly into the skin with filler. When injected into the skin, the hyaluronic acid molecules in the filler attract and bind to water, creating a plumping effect. This helps fill fine lines, wrinkles, and hollowed areas, creating the appearance of smoother skin.