Dry skin can seriously knock off a lot of confidence points.
Not only does it have a lackluster appearance, it also encourages those awful fine lines to show up and wave “Hi!” for everyone to see. Great, now you look stressed and older than your age.
In an effort to revive your, um, youth and radiance, you might have already tried numerous products and creams, moisturizers that claim to reverse the aging process and whatever. Still, they did not work.
Then, you heard something new that is causing all the rage in the beauty world. Like “fountain of youth” kind of hot.
So you decided to try out a hyaluronic acid serum and despite its reputation for serious hydration, you still find yourself with dry skin and those godawful fine lines.
What went wrong?
To use the hyaluronic acid serum properly, you first have to understand what hyaluronic acid is and how it works.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid, also called hyaluronan, is a substance that naturally occurs in the body and is found in the fluids in the eyes and joints, as well as the spaces in between the cells of the skin. In humans, hyaluronic acid is most abundant in the skin. The hyaluronic acid found in the skin alone accounts for 50 percent of the total hyaluronic acid in the whole body.
Hyaluronic acid is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan. Glycosaminoglycans are highly polar and attract water, which makes them ideal as lubricants and shock absorbers. Hyaluronic acid in itself is capable of attracting and binding up to a thousand times its weight in water, making it the most important molecule involved in maintaining skin moisture.
What Are The Functions Of Hyaluronic Acid In The Body?
Aside from being the key molecule in maintaining skin moisture, hyaluronic acid fulfills a lot of roles in the body, mainly because of its incredible ability to attract and bind water molecules.
Some of the functions of hyaluronic acid in the body include:
- Lubrication of joints. Hyaluronic acid decreases the friction between the bones in joints, allowing for smoother movements and greater range of motion.
- Space-filling capacity. Glycosaminoglycans like hyaluronic acid carry negative charges. This means that they can become voluminous as their similar charges tend to repel each other, resulting in the molecules remaining far apart. Add to this their innate ability to attract water and you have a substance that makes for wonderful, hydrated fillers that resist compression.
- The framework through which cells migrate. Not all of the cells in the body remain stationary. Some of them have to move to fulfill other functions such as the formation of blood vessels. Hyaluronic acid provides a framework through which these particular cells can move.
What Are The Available Hyaluronic Acid Products?
Hyaluronic acid that is used as medicine and as a key ingredient in many cosmetic products are extracted from rooster combs or made by bacteria in a laboratory with controlled settings.
Hyaluronic acid can be taken orally or injected by a trained healthcare professional as fillers or as a treatment for osteoarthritis and some eye conditions. It is also available in topical form as serums, gels, and creams.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid Used For?
Because of its wondrous ability to attract and retain water, hyaluronic acid has gained a lot of uses both medically and in the cosmetic world.
1. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a painful joint condition that results from the breakdown of joint cartilage and the underlying bones. Hyaluronic acid can be taken in orally or injected into the affected joints by a trained doctor or other healthcare professional.
2. Eye Surgery
Recently, hyaluronic acid has gained the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in eye surgeries. Hyaluronic acid is found in great concentration in the fluids in the eyes and can now be injected into the eye during surgeries to replace the natural fluids in them.
3. Plastic Surgery
We can go on and on about how hyaluronic acid makes a great filler. For one, it can be used as a lip filler in plastic surgery to achieve sexy, kissable puckers much like Angelina Jolie’s.
4. Skincare
Is your skin looking a little dry and lackluster? Are those fine lines starting to appear at (gasp!) thirty?
Hyaluronic acid has recently earned an esteemed spot in the beauty arena, courtesy of its ability to attract and bind water, making it great for hydration as well as a filler to plump up and smooth those fine lines. In fact, some have gone as far as to dub it the new “fountain of youth”.
This study also documented the use of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMW-HA) injections to shrink those unsightly gaping pores. LMW-HA was injected intradermally to 42 subjects, which resulted in a significant improvement in pore size with no cases of infection, nodules, or pigmentation at the injection sites. The overall satisfaction rate was a whopping 92.8%.
How Do You Use a Hyaluronic Acid Serum?
Hyaluronic acid has really intense water attraction and binding capabilities and if used improperly, it can sap water from your skin itself. This is why some people complain that the use of hyaluronic acid products dries their skin even more.
The right way to use hyaluronic acid serum is to apply it directly to damp skin, right after washing, so it can take advantage of the available water still clinging to your skin. Finish this off with a layer of moisturizer to seal it in for maximum hydrating effect.
Conclusion
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body with powerful water attraction and binding abilities. Because of this, it makes for a wonderful lubricant and shock absorber, especially in joints. It is also this particular quality of hyaluronic acid that makes them wonderful for the hydration of dry skin.
However, because of this very effect that improper usage of hyaluronic acid can also dry your skin by sucking the water out of your skin. To counter this, apply your hyaluronic acid serum on damp skin and finish off with a moisturizer to take advantage of its hydration.
Did you find this article helpful? Do you use a hyaluronic acid serum for your skin also? What have you noticed? Let us know your thoughts and tips on how to use hyaluronic acid serum by commenting below. Don’t forget to share this article with your family and friends!
Hi Everyone, BeYoungAholic’s aim is to help women who have lost their self-confidence because of the way they look. We will provide you tips and bits of advice on how to take care of yourself and maintain your youthful look. So, Enjoy the blog!