Hyaluronic acid was first isolated by the German scientist Karl Meyer from the vitreous of the eye. The name of the substance is made up of two words "hyalos", which means Greek for "vitreous," and uronic acid. Despite the fact that this name is the most common, many chemists consider the terms hyaluronan or hyaluronate to be more correct.
To date, hyaluronic acid is most often artificially synthesized in laboratory conditions or extracted from animal tissues. The resulting substance is a white opaque crystals that have no smell and taste. When dissolved in water forms a jelly-like mass.
Hyaluronic acid is part of such tissues of the human body as cartilage, vitreous body, skin integument. This is what determines its widespread use in medicine in the treatment of diseases such as arthritis, radiculitis, cataracts, glaucoma, burn lesions and skin grafts.
In combination with lubricin, hyaluronic acid plays the role of a biological lubricant in our body. In articular cartilage, it is present in the form of a membrane of each chondrocyte (cartilage cell).
In childhood and adolescence, the human body produces hyaluronate in sufficient quantities, but after 25 its synthesis begins to slow down gradually. The result of such a deficiency is a violation of the blood supply to organs, dry skin, small and deep wrinkles, wear of cartilage. The solution may be taking hyaluronic acid orally, in the form of tablets or capsules.
It should be noted that in the composition of dietary supplements, hyaluronate, as a rule, is combined with ascorbic acid, collagen and elastin. Such a complex has a powerful antioxidant effect, strengthens and heals joints, has a general therapeutic effect, restores the skin's natural moisture level from the inside. As a rule, the course of taking the drug lasts at least 5 months.
A new trend in plastic surgery is the modeling of the bust using the Macroline drug, the main component of which is hyaluronate. Of course, with the help of a filler it will not be possible to significantly increase the breast in volume, but to make the bust more elastic and change its shape is a perfectly feasible task.
Hyaluronic acid is also no less popular with cosmetologists. Subcutaneous administration of Restylane (the trade name for hyaluronan) allows you to simulate facial contours, correct age-related changes, such as deep folds in the nasolabial triangle or transverse wrinkles on the forehead. The effect of the biorevitalization procedure or mesotherapy lasts up to six months, which is quite comparable with more expensive options. Injections of the drug provide a quick and lasting effect.
However, a syringe and a needle are not the only ways in which hyaluronic acid can be delivered to the skin. A cream, serum or face mask gives the effect no worse, although not as long.
By the way, hyaluronic acid is considered one of the most useful ingredients in cosmetics. It does not cause allergic reactions or irritation, does not interfere with the natural respiration of the skin.
Most often, hyaluronic acid in cosmetics is combined with retinol (vitamin A) and tocopherol (vitamin E). Hyaluronic acid in this case enhances the action of the active components of creams and serums, due to its ability to form a protective film on the surface of the skin, thus retaining beneficial substances in the deep layers.
Hyaluronic acid in the composition of cosmetic creams and masks can save the skin from the adverse effects of wind and cold, as well as ultraviolet rays.
There is also a way to get our skin to naturally produce hyaluronic acid. This is glycolic peeling. This procedure is indicated for age-related skin changes and acne.