What’s all the hype about Hyaluronic Acid?

In the past, enthusiastic marketeers have been quick to herald hyaluronic acid as the ‘Fountain of Youth’. Here at National Custom Compounding we think that’s a little over the top, however the results from a mounting number of clinical trials make for interesting reading for anyone concerned about photo-aged skin.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the body’s connective tissues, tissues found in the nervous system as well as the outer surfaces of organs, blood vessels and the skin.

In the skin, hyaluronic acid is involved in tissue repair, in particular when the skin is exposed to excessive UVB rays from the sun. The acid is a free-radical scavenger and aids in the delivery of vital nutrients around the epidermis. Essentially the acid ‘opens up space’ in the skin’s cellular structure creating an unobstructed passage for delivery of elements like Vitamin A, known to promote tissue hydration and combat the effects of photo-aging.

At a guess, scientists think a healthy body averages around 15 grams of hyaluronic acid. The body turns over one-third of this amount every day – synthesizing new acid and expelling a percentage of the old.

What’s the science?

Scientists who conducted a study at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Germany in 2011 claim that both the depth and roughness of wrinkles was significantly reduced after 60 days of hyaluronic acid treatment when compared to a placebo treated-area in 76 female subjects aged 30 to 60.

According to the study, “Topical application of all 0.1{648ff2b140dd79f8b10f01740237e66061b7c0f8b396ba52d99047c684c8722c} HA (hyaluronic acid) formulations used in this study led to significant improvement in skin hydration and elasticity.”

Another study in 2016 claims that, “The depth of perioral and orbital wrinkles decreased significantly in all groups, with depth reduction ranging between 10{648ff2b140dd79f8b10f01740237e66061b7c0f8b396ba52d99047c684c8722c} and 20{648ff2b140dd79f8b10f01740237e66061b7c0f8b396ba52d99047c684c8722c}. Skin-tightness increased significantly in all groups, rising by 13 to 30{648ff2b140dd79f8b10f01740237e66061b7c0f8b396ba52d99047c684c8722c}.”

National Custom Compounding produces a specialised hyaluronic acid skin serum which can be purchased without a prescription. Visit our online shop to order online or contact us for more information.