Table of Contents
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid (Ha from the English Hyaluronic Acid) is the most abundant component in the dermis of the human body and other mammals.
It is also present in some types of bacteria. It is a fluid element that appears elastic and viscous, inside which reticular fibres, collagen and elastin immerse, also essential proteins for the body.
Together, these substances have properties:
- anti ageing
- wrinkle
- ability to regenerate bones and cartilages.
How to Stimulate the Production of Hyaluronic Acid?
Different methods studies to integrate the decrease in Ha due to the passing of the years and stimulate its production. Among the natural ones, the diet is undoubtedly the most suitable. For example, eating fruits and vegetables. When looking for powerful skincare products, consider Calecim’s skincare. Its patented ingredient, PTT-6, can help boost hyaluronic levels from within.
Among the foods with a higher concentration of vitamin E, zinc and magnesium, it recommends to take:
- lemons
- oranges
- Kiwi
- melons
- bananas
- grapes
- blueberries
- cucumbers
- spinach
- broccoli
- carrots
- pumpkin
- tomatoes.
- But also parsley, coriander, chocolate, almonds and green tea.
Instead, if we are talking about meat, prefer lamb, veal and turkey, rich in this acid, or fish, in particular tuna, mackerel and salmon. We also recommend rice and whole grains, rich in zinc.
Among the other prevention methods, careful exposure to UV rays should remember, another element capable of causing free radicals and activating the skin’s degradation processes.
How is Hyaluronic Acid Produced?
Countering the signs of ageing is also possible thanks to hyaluronic acid-based products made in the laboratory.
Industrial production currently takes place through two methods.
However, the limited availability of raw materials and the risks of contamination by animal viruses and the high cost of the purification processes make the first extraction method less competitive than the other.
That produced by bacterial fermentation reduces costs and the risks associated with contaminants, including heavy metals.
Products of Animal Origin
In addition, products of animal origin cannot use for everything and, before use, they need an actual skin test to observe any reactions such as:
- hypersensitivity
- redness
- erythema
- hardening of the injection site.
Among its uses, fillers derived from cockscomb, for example, are indicated only for specific facial treatments, particularly wrinkles and folds, which are moderate to severe. They do not recommend lip fillers.
Instead, other fillers, obtained from the fermentation of equine streptococci, are used for:
- wrinkle correction
- volumize the lips
- treatment of deformity of the lacrimal cavity.
- Likewise, some solid oral supplements, made with Ha extracted from avian cartilages, become very impure and of low quality, so their use not recommend.
Bacterial Fermentation
- On the contrary, hyaluronic acid derived from bio-fermentation is now used almost for everything, precisely because of its very low immunogenicity, i.e. the possibility of adverse reactions.
- It is possible to obtain various forms of hyaluronic acid with different molecular weights, characteristics and functions.
Uses of Hyaluronic Acid
Each finished product based on hyaluronic acid has a different purpose. In this regard, we can distinguish two macro-areas.
The field of cosmetics and anti-ageing treatments:
- creams
- filler
- supplements (also used in medicine)
- shampoo.
- The field of medical applications, which include:
- infiltrations
- eye drops
- aerosol
- gauze
- ova.
- The aesthetic goal of pathology defines the product’s choice to use and how this must convey within the organism.
The skin and anti aging products
- As we age, our skin starts producing less hyaluronic acid and losing its ability to hold water.
- Thus begins a slow dehydration process, resulting from having dry and not very compact skin, which can present laxity.
- Products based on hyaluronic acid are undoubtedly the most famous and well-known substances in aesthetics and cosmetics to combat the signs of ageing.
- How do they do it? First of all, by deeply moisturizing the skin and consequently triggering other essential proteins such as collagen and elastin.
- The effect is a more voluminous, smoother, more relaxed skin, with more delicate wrinkles and sometimes devoid of that pigmentation typical of ageing.
- It is, therefore, an ingredient capable of giving benefits to all skin types. Just choose the shape that best suits your needs.
Effectiveness of Hyaluronic Acid
- In the cosmetic field, creams represent the most used product, both because compared to other beauty treatments, they cost less and for the simplicity of application. Easy to find on the market, there are different types.
- What distinguishes them is the concentration of hyaluronic acid in the mixture, which can vary from 0.1 to 1%. Then, the molecular weight of the Ha used, which allows them to go more or less in-depth.
- Most creams help improve the general condition of the skin. They are moisturizing and make a face younger and healthier.
- But to have a natural anti-ageing effect, you need products based on hyaluronic acid at high concentrations, such as serums with a more fluid texture than regular moisturizing cream and optimize the plumping effectiveness.
- However, the results are lower than injections, which cost much more, but if used consistently, even good creams can offer visible benefits, gradually and without the use of needles.
- Since hyaluronic acid can use on any skin, even Ha-based creams usually have the same characteristics as it is not irritating.
- There are people who, having particularly dry or mature skin, will have more significant benefits from these cosmetics.
- But we can say with certainty that hyaluronic acid creams are also helpful for young people with acne and those in their thirties who want to give volume to the skin and reduce the first wrinkles.