Hyaluronic acid has become a trending ingredient in a variety of skin care products. It is often recommended by dermatologists as well as other physicians for its ability to improve the skin’s texture and appearance, along with reducing other symptoms associated with aging.
Hyaluronic acid has been added to different anti-aging beauty and healthcare products. You can now find hyaluronic acid lotions, creams, serums and supplements sold in health food stores. There’s even a chance your dermatologist might offer it in injection form. But still, questions remain regarding this secret ingredient, like what exactly is it? Why has it become so popular? And, can its benefits be used for anything other than skin?
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a lubricating, clear and gooey substance that the body produces naturally. Hyaluronic acid is found in the greatest concentrations in the skin, inside joints, within the eye sockets and in other tissues where it helps retain collagen, increase moisture and provide elasticity and flexibility.
In addition to our bodies producing it, hyaluronic acid is also a naturally occurring ingredient in bone broth, which is also why adding more bone broth or protein powder made from bone broth to your diet can actually increase your intake of hyaluronic acid.
Along with hydrating your skin and reducing signs of aging, hyaluronic acid has been used to help alleviate many other issues besides the skin.
Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid has a variety of uses other than benefiting the skin. Many of which include the following:
Heals wounds faster: Applying hyaluronic acid directly to an open wound can help speed up the recovery process because it regulates inflammation levels while signaling the body to deliver more blood vessels to that area of impact.
Relieves joint pain: Since hyaluronic acid is also found in the joints, it keeps the space between your bones well lubricated. When the joints are lubricated, the bones are less likely to grind against each other and cause uncomfortable pain.
Soothes acid reflux: Acid reflux occurs when the contents of the stomach are brought up into the throat, causing pain and damage to the lining of the esophagus. Hyaluronic acid has been found to help soothe the damaged lining of the esophagus and speed up the recovery process, thus reducing acid reflux.
Prevents bladder pain: Hyaluronic acid can relieve bladder pain because it helps to repair damage to bladder tissue, making it less sensitive to pain.
Relieves dry and itchy eyes: Since hyaluronic acid is excellent at retaining moisture, it’s often used to treat dry eye. Applying it directly to the eyes has been shown to reduce dry eye symptoms and improve overall eye health.
Preserves bone health: Animal and test-tube research suggest that high doses of hyaluronic acid may help prevent bone loss. This may be because hyaluronic acid can increase the activity of osteoblasts, which are the cells responsible for building new bone tissue.
Hyaluronic acid is well known for its skin benefits, especially when it comes to alleviating dry skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and speeding up wound healing. It can also help relieve joint pain in people with osteoarthritis and protect the eyes.
Hyaluronic acid can be applied on top of the skin, but it is also available in supplemental form. More research still needs to be conducted on the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid, which is why it is recommended to speak to your doctor first before considering taking hyaluronic acid yourself.
