What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Posted on: July 17, 2020
A person who has gone to their dermatologist or esthetician for tips on skincare has no doubt heard about hyaluronic acid or HA. What exactly is it? Read on for more information.
Hyaluronic acid is actually a type of sugar. It’s found in every living thing, and its job is to attract moisture to an area such as the skin and eyes and lock it in. Though the body’s store of HA decreases as people age, the good news is that it is included in skincare products that keep even aging skin smooth and elastic.
But HA produces more than just flawless and hydrated skin. Here are seven other benefits:
1. Supports Wound Healing
When a person has an injury such as a cut, the body ramps up its production of HA. The substance goes to the area, regulates inflammation, and tells the body to begin healing. It can be placed directly on wounds.
2. It’s Antibacterial
Hyaluronic acid also has antibacterial properties, so it guards the body against infection as the wound heals.
3. It Eases the Pain of Arthritis
HA is found naturally in the joints and keeps the bones from grinding together and causing pain. As the levels of HA in the body decrease, this lubricating function also decreases and can lead to joint pain. HA supplements are often helpful in easing this pain.
4. Eases Acid Reflex Symptoms
Acid reflux happens with the contents of the stomach backflow into the patient’s esophagus. Over time, this can damage its lining and cause discomfort. People who took HA and chondroitin sulfate supplements along with antacids found that their symptoms eased considerably.
5. Eases Dry Eye
Dry eye is another problem of older adults, and taking eyedrops enriched with HA can soothe it.
6. HA Seems to Slow Bone Loss
Studies in animals have shown that HA supplements slow osteopenia, a type of bone loss that presages the more serious osteoporosis.
7. Stops Bladder Pain
Though doctors don’t know why HA inserted into the bladder eases the painful symptoms of interstitial cystitis in women.