Hyaluronic acid and its many benefits for your skin

Maybe you already noticed that many moisturizers and creams contain hyaluronic acid nowadays. Some brands even highlighting this specific ingredient on all their packaging, so it must be something special, right?

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a large biomolecule that is naturally produced in organisms, like humans. It is made out of smaller chain biomolecules. All mammals naturally produce hyaluronic acid. In 1934 this molecule was first described and now it is used a lot in healthcare.

This acid plays an important roll when it comes to brain surgery and it is being used to promote wound healing. Even in plastic surgery this ingredient is used for fillers to provide people with younger looking skin. It is being injected in that case[1].

But one of the most important reasons that hyaluronic acid is popular in the healthcare system, is because it fights bacteria in wounds. That reduces the chance of infections[2].

Ok, so now we know it is popular in the healthcare system because it helps to regenerate the skin when you have a wound, but why is it in day creams?

Hyaluronic acid and your skin

One of the reasons for plastic surgeons to inject hyaluronic acid in someone's skin, is because this ingredient helps to firm your skin and make it more elastic. When you get older your skin has more trouble retaining moisture.

Hyaluronic acid can retain 1000 times its own weight in moisture, so it provides a lot of hydration and that helps to make your skin look younger.

Within the skin cells there are a few molecules that are important to help your skin retain moisture. Hyaluronic acid is the most important one. It is being made within the cel and then placed outside of it.

In contrary to other molecules, hyaluronic acid does not have a protein core. It can actually bind with Proteoglycans and these molecules can bind with protein.

Hyaluronic acid can be found in our whole body, but 50% of this acid is in our skin. It also fills the voids in your body and it helps to move cells from one place to another.

When you have a wound, your body will produce more hyaluronic acid. It also activates cells that promote your immune system when the fibro blast, an important cel in your tissue, or your skin cells get damaged.

Hyaluronic acid does not survive very long. It has a half life of 5 minutes when it is in your bloodstream and about half a day when it is on or in your skin. So, our body continuously produces this acid to enjoy the benefits.

It is possible to keep hyaluronic acid alive longer when it is combined with other substances. That is why hyaluronic acid is added to moisturizers and anti-aging products.

Most of the hyaluronic acid in your skin will be in the dermis and the least in the epidermis. When you apply this ingredient using a moisturizer or cream, then it will end up in your epidermis.

Your dermis regulates the moisture balance of your skin and it promotes a good working lymphatic system. It also stabilized the structure of your skin. This is in the layer under the top layer of your skin.

Your skin starts to look older when the amount of natural hyaluronic acid in the epidermis is much less compared to the amount of hyaluronic acid in the dermis. This also has effects on other genetic processes in your skin[3].

That explains why this ingredient is so popular in anti-aging products and creams. It helps to deliver hyaluronic acid to the epidermis for a better hydrated skin. Your skin retains moisture better and will look younger.

When the collagen production in the skin gets lower, that also has an effect on your skin. This process is unfortunately not solved by hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic acid in your cream

So, now we know it is pretty great when your day cream has some hyaluronic acid, but what do the numbers say? How effective is it really?

In a 2014 study with women that were on average 45,2 years old, they researched to see the effects of the use of hyaluronic acid. They looked at wrinkles, but also the elasticity of the skin.

After 2,4 and 8 weeks this effect was noticeable. Regardless if they were using a day cream or body lotion, the wrinkles were 40% less deep and the elasticity of the skin improved with 96% and the firmness of the skin improved with 55%[4].

In this study the women used hyaluronic acid twice a day, which makes since because of the half life of the ingredient.

Even though this study was done with women, it seems reasonable to think that the same effects can be achieved when men are choosing for skincare products with hyaluronic acid.

When you combine hyaluronic acid with glycerine in a cream, it works even better to retain moisture in your skin[5].

Anti-aging for men

There are many interesting anti-aging products available for men. In our shop we have great products developed specifically for men.

Our first example is the Brickell Men's Hyaluronic Acid Booster. It helps to reduce wrinkles and retain moisture. The formula also contains glycerin for a lot of hydration. And it does not contain any parabens or sulfates.

Click here for more information about the Brickell Men's Hyaluronic Acid Booster 

Firmer skin will always make you look younger. The Brickell Revitalizing Anti-Aging Cream is a day cream for your face and neck. It does not only contain hyaluronic acid, but it also contains aloe vera, shea butter and other natural ingredients. You can even use it in combination with the Acid Booster.

Click here for more information about the Brickell Men's Revitalizing Anti-Aging Cream

Do you want to improve the skin around your eyes, like dark circles and crow's feet? In that case the Brickell Men's Restoring Eye Serum Treatment could be great for you. It contains glycerin and vitamin C in addition to the hyaluronic acid. Vitamin C helps to fight free radicals, which are bad for your skin.

Click here for more information about the Brickell Men's Restoring Eye Serum Treatment

Another product is the Baxter of California Under Eye Complex. This product is made for the area around your eyes. It contains caffeine to reduce dark circles and you will look more energized.

Click here for more information about the Baxter of California Under Eye Complex

In our shop we have many more interesting anti-aging products for men that want younger looking skin. We have numerous day creams, night creams and eye serums that can help you deal with spots were aging shows first.

Click here to see all our anti-aging products for men

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Sources:

[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1748681507001805

[2] https://aap.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1902/jop.1999.70.4.370

[3] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/derm.21923

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3970829/

[5] http://www.e-ajbc.org/m/journal/view.php?number=640