Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid and How to Use It

Produced naturally in young skin, hyaluronic acid plays a key role in skin hydration and is a popular skincare ingredient. This article looks at what is hyaluronic acid used for and how Eucerin uses it effectively as an active ingredient in cleansing, care, and sun protection products to boost hydration and delay signs of skin ageing.

Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide molecule (a big and complex carbohydrate) also known as hyaluronan. It’s formed by our cells and occurs naturally in our bodies. Along with collagen and elastin, it’s one of the main components of the connective tissue that surrounds our skin cells, where it provides moisture and firmness to skin. 

Young, healthy skin contains lots of hyaluronic acid but, as we age, our skin produces less, and existing reserves deplete.

Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant, which means that it acts like a magnet, attracting water to the skin. It can bind between 1,000 and 10,000 times its own weight in water (i.e., one gram binds between one and ten litres).

Maintaining optimal hydration is key to healthy skin: without the right amount of water, skin dries out and is less effective as a protective barrier. Visually, it loses radiance and firmness.

As skin ages, our cells produce less hyaluronic acid, and existing hyaluronic acid starts to degrade. This can lead to age-induced dryness and is also one of the factors responsible for the visible signs of skin ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles, a loss of volume, and a loss of elasticity.

All skin types benefit from skincare products that contain an effective hyaluronic acid formula, but they are especially effective on skin that is naturally dry and from the mid-20s when skin starts to show the first signs of ageing.

Research has demonstrated the value of certain forms of hyaluronic acid as an ingredient in topical skincare, where it helps boost skin moisturisation and plump skin, thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It is also tried and trusted by dermatologists as an ingredient in dermal filler injections used to reduce the visible signs of skin ageing.

The revolutionary Hyaluron-Filler Epicelline Serum was developed after 15 years of epigenetic research. Infused with hyaluronic acid and the powerful active ingredient Epicelline®, this serum is designed to deeply hydrate, smooth fine lines, and rejuvenate your skin.

It taps into the skin's cellular memory, reactivating youth signals with its unique blend of Hyaluronic Acid, Epicelline®, Glycin Saponin & Enoxolone, with results visible within four weeks*.

• Hyaluronic acid retains moisture and is a key component of the skin's connective tissue.
• Epicelline® reactivates dormant youth genes and reactivates epigenetic changes.
• Glycine Saponin stimulates Hyaluronic acid production, while Enoxolone prevents its degradation.

*Clinical study over 2 and 4 weeks with 43 volunteers respectively. Product-in-use test over 4 weeks over 160 volunteers.

Daily cleansing, moisturisation, and sun protection with products rich in hyaluronic acid will help keep your skin hydrated and healthy and delay the visible signs of ageing.

Eucerin offers an extensive selection of care products that maximise the hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid for your skin. Our three ranges are tailored to every major stage of the skin ageing process, and their effectiveness is clinically and dermatologically proven:

Fine lines and wrinkles develop because our skin’s own production of Hyaluronic Acid decreases, causing the skin to look older. The Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler range has been specially formulated to counteract the ageing process, created with our 3x Effect formula to fill, stimulate, and defend.

Suitable for all skin types, the Hyaluron-Filler +3x Effect Day SPF 15 addresses the first signs of ageing and helps prevent UV-induced photoageing. Consistent use will help to generate visibly smoother, radiant, and younger-looking skin.

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity nourishes fragile and mature skin. It plumps up deep wrinkles and improves elasticity.

One of the negative effects of too much sun is that it dries out skin and leads to photoageing (premature aging caused by the sun).

Eucerin Sun Fluid Photoaging Control SPF 50 is an everyday facial sunscreen that offers the very best in sun protection. The formula is further enriched with hyaluronic acid and visibly reduces wrinkles on the face and décolleté.

Hyaluronic acid plays a vital role in retaining moisture in the skin. As we get older, the moisture in our skin decreases, so the skin becomes drier. That means that the skin becomes more vulnerable to environmental factors. Due to its metabolism in the different skin layers, hyaluronic acid allows it to interact with other skin components, enhancing its ability to modulate skin moisture in a rational manner.

Moisture retention is the main advantage of hyaluronic acid, but there are more benefits to using this ingredient:

• It speeds up wound healing: Hyaluronic acid has the ability to heal wounds faster by regulating inflammation levels and helping the body create more blood vessels. It can also reduce the size and pain of the wound while reducing the risk of infection when applied to an open wound. It can also reduce the appearance of scars after wounds.
  
  
• Improves skin flexibility: Hyaluronic acid enhances the flexibility and elasticity of the skin, reducing wrinkles and fine lines.
  
  
• Anti-ageing: As we age, it’s normal for our skin to lose moisture, leading to dry and saggy skin as the natural production of hyaluronic acid decreases. Products with hyaluronic acid not only increase the amount of hyaluronic acid in your skin, but also moisturise it, minimising the appearance of fine lines. Our Moisture Booster will hydrate, moisturise, and refresh your skin. Our series of products is suitable for all skin types.
  
  
• Soothes: Acid reflux disease occurs when acid that is produced from your stomach travels up into your oesophagus, causing a burning chest sensation called heartburn. Enriching the hyaluronic acid in your body helps you to soothe the oesophagus and speed up its recovery.

Hyaluronic acid comes in different molecular weights, and some formulations are more effective than others. It’s not enough to be told that a product contains hyaluronic acid: always be sure to buy products from a brand you trust with research results that prove effectiveness and skin compatibility.

There are three main types of hyaluronic acid used in topical skincare:

• High molecular hyaluronic acid (also known as long-chained). This remains on the skin’s surface and works to improve hydration in the outermost layer of the epidermis, where fine lines and wrinkles originate.
  
• Medium molecular hyaluronic acid (also known as medium-chained) works in a similar way to high molecular hyaluronic acid.
  
• Low molecular hyaluronic acid (also known as short-chained). With molecules that are 40 times smaller¹ than those of high molecular hyaluronic acid, low molecular hyaluronic acid penetrates further into the epidermal layers where it stimulates the skin’s own production of hyaluronic acid, replenishing moisture where deeper wrinkles originate.

Eucerin uses both high and low molecular hyaluronic acid in the Hyaluron-Filler², Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity, and Sun Photoaging Control formulas to effectively target and plump wrinkles from the inside out. 

All Eucerin formulas are the result of innovative research and development and 130 years of skincare expertise. They are clinically and dermatologically proven to be both highly effective and well tolerated by the skin.

1 The standard unit for measuring the mass of an atom is a kilo Dalton (kDa). High molecular hyaluronic acid has a kDa of 2000 and low molecular hyaluronic acid has a kDa of 52.
2 With the exception of Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Moisture Booster which combines medium molecular (rather than high molecular) hyaluronic acid with low molecular hyaluronic acida

Healthy lifestyle choices can help you maintain your skin's appearance and texture, keeping it soft, smooth, and firmer for longer. Try to get plenty of exercise, eat a balanced diet, drink lots of water, limit your alcohol consumption, give up smoking, and get a good night’s sleep.