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What are the Different Types of Hyaluronic Acid Products?

Margo Steele
Margo Steele

Hyaluronic acid products can improve or remove the signs of aging on the skin and help relieve joint pain. The supplement is available in the form of oral capsules or tablets, topical creams or lotions and injectable materials. The most popular for skin care are the topical and injectable products. Despite manufacturer’s assertions that oral supplements can improve the appearance of the skin, oral hyaluronic acid products continue to be used primarily to treat painful joints and to improve their function.

A viscous substance that occurs naturally in the body, hyaluronic acid lubricates joints, gives shape to the eyeballs and keeps the skin plump and smooth. Production of hyaluronic acid diminishes with age, and the result is stiff joints and wrinkled skin. Joint function can be improved by taking over-the-counter oral preparations or by receiving injections of hyaluronic acid directly into problem joints. Creams and lotions containing hyaluronic acid can smooth the skin and restore some of its youthful firmness.

Oral hyaluronic acid may help moisturize the skin and leave it looking smoother and feeling softer.
Oral hyaluronic acid may help moisturize the skin and leave it looking smoother and feeling softer.

Topical hyaluronic acid products, in the form of moisturizing creams and lotions, work by attracting moisture to the skin and locking it in. Hyaluronic acid is able to absorb many times its own weight in moisture. It pulls in moisture from the air and binds it to the underlying cellular structure of the skin, thereby increasing its bulk. This increase in tissue volume plumps up wrinkles and creases and helps smooth the surface of the skin.

Hyaluronic acid keeps the skin plump and smooth.
Hyaluronic acid keeps the skin plump and smooth.

The effectiveness of topical hyaluronic acid products depends on the amount of active ingredient they contain. Higher levels of hyaluronic acid mean better results. Products containing levels of hyaluronic acid high enough to produce noticeable changes are usually available only through dermatologists or plastic surgeons. Improvement in appearance is gradual and can only be maintained by continued use of the product.

Hyaluronic acid is commonly marketed as an anti-aging product.
Hyaluronic acid is commonly marketed as an anti-aging product.

Injections of Restylane®, Juvederm® or similar products provide quicker, more dramatic results. These synthetic hyaluronic acid products are designed to correct lines and wrinkles almost instantly. Dermatologists or plastic surgeons inject the dermal fillers under wrinkles and depressions in the skin to fill the tissue voids beneath them. The result is smoother, firmer skin that looks and feels younger.

Hyaluronic acid with methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) can help prevent the joint pain that often strikes older adults.
Hyaluronic acid with methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) can help prevent the joint pain that often strikes older adults.

Hyaluronic acid injections can bring about significant improvements in the appearance of the skin, but they are not permanent. Like natural hyaluronic acid, the manufactured product breaks down over time and is absorbed by the body. Effects usually last from three to nine months. Repeat procedures are necessary to maintain improvement, and most people require two or three treatments per year.

The effectiveness of topical hyaluronic acid products depends on the amount of active ingredient they contain.
The effectiveness of topical hyaluronic acid products depends on the amount of active ingredient they contain.

The average cost of hyaluronic acid injections vary widely by area and doctor. The number of syringes necessary for a treatment depends on the number of areas injected and the depth of the wrinkles or depressions. More than one injection may be necessary to smooth out an area satisfactorily.

Discussion Comments

turquoise

I have joint pain issues, especially in my knees. They're very painful and limit my movement. I've been wanting to try oral supplements for joint support for a long time now. But I never found something that I felt completely okay with, until now. I've been reading about hyaluronic acid supplements for joints and it sounds great.

Is anyone here using hyaluronic acid supplements? Do you recommend it? Have you experienced any negative side effects?

fify

@ZipLine-- I have only tried the serum, so I can't comment on other products. The serum really works though. I use it underneath my regular face cream and I have noticed that some of the fine wrinkles around my mouth are less apparent. My skin also feels more plump and supple.

I would assume that the type of product doesn't matter as long as it has a good amount of hyaluronic acid in it. My serum is almost entirely hyaluronic acid. I know that there are also topical products out there made of entirely pure hyaluronic acid. So don't worry about the form of the product or the price. Just make sure that it's from a reputable company and that the hyaluronic acid is the major ingredient.

ZipLine

I've noticed that hyaluronic acid creams for skin come in different forms like gel, serum and spray. Are they all equally effective or is one type better than the others?

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    • Oral hyaluronic acid may help moisturize the skin and leave it looking smoother and feeling softer.
      By: Maridav
      Oral hyaluronic acid may help moisturize the skin and leave it looking smoother and feeling softer.
    • Hyaluronic acid keeps the skin plump and smooth.
      By: luiscarceller
      Hyaluronic acid keeps the skin plump and smooth.
    • Hyaluronic acid is commonly marketed as an anti-aging product.
      By: brankatekic
      Hyaluronic acid is commonly marketed as an anti-aging product.
    • Hyaluronic acid with methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) can help prevent the joint pain that often strikes older adults.
      By: Daria Filiminova
      Hyaluronic acid with methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) can help prevent the joint pain that often strikes older adults.
    • The effectiveness of topical hyaluronic acid products depends on the amount of active ingredient they contain.
      By: Piotr Marcinski
      The effectiveness of topical hyaluronic acid products depends on the amount of active ingredient they contain.
    • Hyaluronic acid may be an active ingredient in pain relief sprays used to treat sore joints.
      By: Nikki Zalewski
      Hyaluronic acid may be an active ingredient in pain relief sprays used to treat sore joints.
    • Hyaluronic acid may be injected into the lips to achieve a plumper appearance.
      By: armina
      Hyaluronic acid may be injected into the lips to achieve a plumper appearance.