December 5, 2023

Why We Need Hyaluronic Acid

Did you ever wonder how some people stay young looking despite advancing age? The secret may be in how much HA or hyaluronic acid they have in their bodies.

HA is a natural substance found throughout our body in synovial fluid, connective tissue and various other tissues. One of its main functions is to bind water and to lubricate movable parts of the body, such as joints and muscles.

Hyaluronic acid can minimize aging by acting as a shock absorber in joint tissue to help our bodies withstand the impact of physical activity.
It can also minimize skin damage by modulating the skin repair process, promoting collagen synthesis and drawing water in which helps plump up skin tissue.

Though it sounds great and our bodies produce it, as we age and with excessive sun exposure, skin cells may slow down the production of this anti-aging compound or simply change how it functions in the body.
Alterations in hyaluronic acid change skin texture and appearance. Though skin aging is due to a multitude of factors, one thing is clear; there are structural changes that show on the outward appearance of skin so yes, changes in hyaluronic acid in the skin contribute to wrinkles and loss of elasticity.

HA can also have an impact in other areas of the body like our hair. The scalp is structurally identical to the skin tissue located throughout the body except it also contains about 100,000 hair follicles. There are two distinctive skin layers, one, the epidermis (outer layer) which gives rise to the protective shield of the body and the other, the dermal layer (deep layer) which makes up the bulk of the skin and is where the hair follicle is located. This dermal layer is composed of connective tissue and the connective tissue, which provides support, nourishes and hydrates the deep layers of the scalp resulting in healthy lustrous hair. This is due to the presence of HA in the scalp

Hyaluronic acid is also highly concentrated inside the eyeball acting as a shock absorber for the eye and helps to transport nutrients into the eye.

And even the gums which are composed of dense fibrous connective tissue (ligaments) which secure the teeth to the jaw bone need to be surrounded by HA. Without it, the gum tissue becomes unhealthy effecting the ligaments that keep teeth in place.