We have all heard about hyaluronic acid, but do we really know what it is? What uses does it have ? Do we just think that it is used in cosmetics? We are going to try to clarify all the doubts that exist about this miraculous substance .
Index
What is hyaluronic acid
HA (Hyaluronic Acid – Uronic Acid) is a polysaccharide with Beta bonds that performs a structural function. This compound is produced naturally by our body , mainly by the skin, joints and cartilage, but after the age of 30 this production decreases and the main problems of aging of joints, wrinkles, etc. begin. Viscous in texture and capable of retaining a thousand times its weight in water, it has a very short natural cycle, which is very important in the way it is applied in anti-wrinkle creams. for example, although it does not affect too much in other uses, both medical and aesthetic, that its degradation is carried out by hyaluronidase, an enzyme whose benefits are only to fulfill this function.
Where is it usually obtained from?
There are only two sources of obtaining it , the most common is that of animal origin and the other is through a process of bacterial fermentation of uric acid.
The source of animal origin can come from several species, the main ones are:
- Roosters crest.
- Shark fin.
- Vitreous and joint humor of cows (after mad cow days they have great controls).
- Fish waste.
- Umbilical cord.
Types of hyaluronic acid: cross-linked and non-cross-linked
Basically, without going into too technical details, the difference is its molecular composition , which in the case of cross-linked hyaluronic acid, creates a mesh-like structure and has a much higher mass.
Non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid has a much smaller mass and is therefore used in creams, serums and various cosmetic industry products both topically and orally, it is indicated for daily use and has a medium-long-term effect on our health.
Cross-linked hyaluronic acid is used for infiltrations of all kinds, both medically aesthetic and regenerative of joints.
Main uses in professional fields of hyaluronate
Since its discovery in 1934 by two pharmacists from Columbia University, its use has increased as time has passed, eight years later its use began in pastry, later in the ophthalmic industry. In 1996 it began to be used in the cosmetic industry , where it currently has the highest consumption.
It is also used a lot lately in the medical and therapeutic field , especially due to biotechnology and the advances in obtaining different molecular derivatives that increase their functions.
Uses of Hyaluronic Acid in Cosmetics
The cosmetic industry is always looking to improve its anti-aging products , HA was a crucial change including it in cosmetics to maintain skin hydration and improve collagen production.
Aesthetic Medicine
enerally, cross- linked HA is used in this field due to its filling and volume properties to mitigate the furrows of skin wrinkles, mainly on th face.
The most popular aesthetic treatments include hyaluronic acid injections in the lips mixed with collagen and deep wrinkles of very aged skin , to create volume and improve the appearance of the face in a natural way.Theraputic and Regenerative Medicine
Joints naturally contain HA. Over the years, regeneration is drastically reduced and diseases derived from the lack of it begin to occur, such as arthritis, osteoarthritis or rheumatic diseases.
In addition to its use mixed with synovial fluid, as a lubricant in knees, elbows and phalanges, it has analgesic and cushioning properties that is also used for the regeneration of cartilage in elderly people and athletes with wear problems.
Also, to prevent such progress in athletes and people with degenerative diseases, it can be taken as a food supplement under medical prescription.
Fertility Clinics
It should be noted that the main component of the cells that surround the ovules is hyaluronic acid, therefore its use for in-vitro fertilization is essential, both in the selection and for its conservation properties of mature sperm.
Thanks to this technique, the chances of success for people who make the decision to have a child increased exponentially .
Duration of the effects of HA
We cannot forget that being a substance that the body generates by itself , its effects have a maximum time before being reabsorbed by the epidermis of the face.
The reabsorption time depends entirely on the type of hyaluronic acid and the area of the body where it is applied. The cross-linking, having a higher density, can last from 6 to 9 months on average , the more fluid form (not cross-linked) ends up ceasing to notice its effects after 3 months at most, in the case of creams and serums for the face. it can be much less .
It must be remembered that the proportions of HA in the different products are very different, since if in the 70s the amount of a kilo of this substance was more than € 5,000, now it is much higher, this makes a product with great amount of hyaluronic acid will have a substantial increase in the amount for the consumer .
Beneficial properties of Sodium Hyaluronic Acid
As we have seen so far, the properties are multiple , and as new research comes out, new uses are discovered in other fields or even within the old ones, but with substantial improvements, taking into account that a human weighing 70 kilos has an average of 15 grams of hyaluronic acid and 10 grams is degraded and re-synthesized every day , so we can get an idea of what can be achieved with an improvement in the absorption or assimilation of this compound with facial aging.
In this section we are going to focus on the most important known benefits for our body for the general public.
For skin in wrinkles, furrows and scars
The hydration is the main function of the biomolecule due to their large water retention capacity, capable of holding 1000 times its mass . When combined with other molecules, such as collagen, amazing results are achieved in the epidermis, causing an improvement in elasticity and in the so problematic dark circles visible on the skin of our face.
The aging of the skin of the face is produced by the decrease in the cellular regeneration of the body’s organism, the different cells have a certain life and as they die they are renewed replacing the old ones , over the years this process is substantially reduced together With its benefits, among other things due to the degradation of hyaluronic acid, managing to increase the proportions of this substance in the required areas implies a vital role in the cellular regeneration of the face and in the fight against aging. You have to think that we are not talking about eternal youth, but about a delay in aging both external and internal of our body .
It is also very useful to accelerate facial healing processes of skin wounds.
Finally, within the same aesthetic medical field, it is used to improve the shape and volume of the lips, noses and buttocks through injections of cross-linked hyaluronic acid and collagen , they are less harmful to our body than the famous botox injections that are usually applied in face to reduce facial expressions.
Joints, tendons and ligaments
Within the aging and joint degradation it is of great help by:
- Injecting it with synovial fluid for the regeneration of internal tissues , this technique is called viscosupplementation and is widely used today.
- As an analgesic in joints both damaged by injuries and degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatism.
- Being viscous in consistency, a beneficial cushioning effect is achieved .
- At the molecular level, it achieves a structural improvement of the cartilage of the body’s organism.
On the hair and scalp
Although it may surprise you, there are treatments for our hair to improve various aspects of it, mainly used together with collagen, it is possible to fill the weakened pores of the scalp as well as a smoothing very similar to that obtained with keratin .
The improvement over the other treatment is the absence of forms and even a substantial increase in hair volume .
Eye operations
In the field of ophthalmology, its use began in cataract operations , due to subsequent studies an improvement in the recovery of the operation was confirmed by applying drops on the patient’s cornea.
Thanks to this discovery, it was used with dry eye disease to relieve its symptoms and without any type of allergic reaction.
Due to their high cost, the typical artificial tears based on a similar polymer are usually found as a substitute , but they do not have the same beneficial effects.
Even so, excessive use of this compound in high concentrations to moisturize the cornea causes blurred vision , therefore and as usual it is always necessary to consult with our ophthalmologist before treating ourselves with it.
In dental medicine – Gingivitis
We must not forget that hyaluronic acid is a very important component of the connective tissue of the gums, according to studies carried out, the application in gels or sprays on the gums helps to reduce the tendency to bleeding .
On the other hand, the same study determined if it is taken orally as a nutritional supplement, the effects are much lower than the direct topics for our health.
The gels should be applied twice a day and the spray about five times a day, for more information ask your dentist or dentist.
Side effects and contraindications of Hyaluronic Acid (Uronic Acid)
There are very few side effects and none if the administration of HA is within the indicated doses and forms.
The contraindications are inconclusive but recommended, until you have a study to verify the opposite with more detailed information that pregnant women and breast-feeding or injections of a medical nature aesthetic are not made nor take it as an oral supplement, if they could be applied in topical and localized injections on joints or osteoarthritic focal problems.
If one is hypertensive, we must not forget to check the rest of the ingredients that make up the treatment that we are going to use to avoid major problems, especially in cases of anti -wrinkles and facial cosmetic serums.
In the case of an application of proportions higher than those indicated, by any of the possible routes, mild allergic reactions may occur on the skin . The most common reactions in cosmetic products are itching, redness, discoloration and irritation of the skin; In the case of injections or oral route we can have edema, hypersensitivity, inflammation, pain, hardness and stiffness of the areas or in general.
Even so, in most cases the problem is usually caused by some of the ingredients that accompany hyaluronic acid and the little interest of people in knowing the necessary information to avoid it.
Positive side effects
It is worth mentioning that the use of hyaluronic acid in studies of leukemia and respiratory diseases have shown in patients improvements in mood, mental response, better skin healing, sexual response, insomnia, decrease in chronic pain and in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Research on the uses of Hyaluronic Acid
Since its discovery in the 1930s, research and new applications continue to be discovered. We are going to try to explain the most important ones to get an idea of the real possibilities that exist. Bear in mind that some of them have not yet been tested in humans and until then they could not be applied under any circumstances.
About knee injuries and arthritic diseases
Most arthritis studies have concluded that subjects undergoing weekly injections of hyaluronic acid, for a period of 3 to 5 weeks, have decreased pain they had between 28-54%. In many cases, patients do not have severe pain again even after two years.
The World Arthritis Foundation published an article on various studies with varying indications of their results, although with a common determinant of improvement in their use.
We recently found a study on biomarkers to find hip osteoarthritis , it is very interesting to think about how biotechnology evolves to benefit an old age in better conditions for everyone.
About the airways
The diagnosis of interstitial diseases in the airways is always an unpleasant process for patients, today they are still mainly using CT scans and biopsies to ensure diagnoses.
Due to this, attempts have been made to search for biomarkers to design less invasive techniques in patients . Researchers from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of the University of Buenos Aires are studying how to achieve it , you can see the complete news here .
Against Cancer – Leukemia
Although it cannot be considered that it has direct benefits in cancer, but we can say that it can greatly help in the fight against cancer . Due to its characteristics and properties, it is being used to prevent multidrug resistance that occurs in cancer cells once they are subjected to many chemotherapy sessions.
This would help improve the long-term effects of chemotherapy drugs and the possibility of a complete cure one day.
Check out these tips on How to Prevent Breast Cancer.
In the effects anesthesia
The latest studies have determined that, in lidocaine-based anesthetic substances, hiuloronan has managed to stop the apoptosis it produces.
In other words, when they anesthetize us with lidocaine, it has the secondary effect of increasing cell death , thanks to hyaluronic acid it is able to suppress it.
