The virtues of Hyaluronic Acid
In both skincare and aesthetics, the virtues of Hyaluronic Acid are raved about, but simply what is it, what does it do and how does it help?
What is Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid, known as HA is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies, found in skin, muscle, eyes and joints. Despite its name including the term 'acid' it is not corrosive, this just means it's a chemical substance which contains hydrogen. HA has a unique ability to retain water, reportedly it can hold up to a thousand times its weight. It achieves this through what is called trans-epidermal water loss, meaning it can control how much water evaporates from the skin, in particular in the upper dermal layers. Subsequently, HA is vital for maintaining skin hydration, elasticity and resilience, but as we age, the levels of HA in our skin decrease, leading to moisture loss, which, when combined with exogenous factors like UV damage and environmental stressors, can contribute to the skin's ageing process.
How does HA work in Aesthetics?
A medical advantage of using HA is that because it naturally occurs in the body, allergic reactions are rare, making HA based products very safe. Skin boosting products such as Profhilo or Redensity 1 contain high levels of HA, which helps maintain a healthy glow by delivering intense hydration, leaving the skin supple and smoother. This is why we describe these products as being like moisturiser under the skin.
HA is continuously broken down by the body and to stop this the HA molecules are cross-linked or bound together, which produces a range of dermal fillers with different properties and strengths. The benefits are that the products are very elastic which allows for natural dynamic movement, are lubricating and quickly integrate with collagen and elastin molecules already present in the dermal and epidermal layers. They come as a soft gel, feel natural and last longer as the bonds slow the metabolism of the HA molecule.
It can be reversed
The other significant benefit of HA dermal fillers is their reversibility. If there are any medical issues or if the patient doesn’t like the results, the procedure can be reversed by using a product called hyaluronidase.
Overall, HA plays a crucial role in aesthetics, providing hydration, volume and skin rejuvenation, while offering safety and versatility for both the patient and the practitioner. I currently use Teoxane fillers which are one of the market leaders and are only available to medical professionals. This allows me to guarantee the quality of the product, and the legitimacy of the medical supplier (I do not buy mine from Amazon) and everyone is safe in the knowledge that if there is an issue, it can reversed.
