This is a very popular ingredient in skincare products. It (often called HA) is also naturally occurring in our skin and throughout the body, primarily in the ECM/EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX.

HA is a very weakly charged molecule, even if it is an acid. So far so good. It used by the body as a lubricant, a free radical scavenger, a promoter of metabolites and in blood vessel formation. Great. It feels rich and moisturizing when applied topically.

When the Skin Dork thinks of HA in the body he thinks of WD-40® – for those of you who are hip to that industrial product..

HA is a VERY BIG MOLECULE of sugar ranging from 1 million to 5 million daltons which means it cannot, repeat cannot, function by topical application. The means you cannot force it into your skin to act like the naturally occurring HA. It is just too big to go into the skin, which is actually a good thing, otherwise it would be very inflammatory. NEVER combine HA with DMSO in an attempt to pole vault back in time. You will only hurt your vision and inflame your skin terribly.

(See also PENETRATION OF INGREDIENTS INTO SKIN)

A curious fact of topical application of substances that also occur naturally in our skin: the synthetic versions, topically applied, are almost always inflammatory agents. Sometimes a little bit, sometimes a lot. Usually, a lot.

HA is cumulatively an irritant when applied topically. Use it often and you will likely be sub-clinically inflamed – meaning you can’t see any redness day to day, but you can flare up easily with little notice, rhyme or reason. You become a lit fuse that with a fragrance, a drink, a topical, a rush of pollen, warm water, etc., will push your skin immediately into the visible red zone.

HA is used sometimes in filler injections to eliminate wrinkles. But this can cause serious problems and has – because of this rejection mechanism by the skin. The body doesn’t like chemicals it makes being topically applied much less injected. It like rejecting a heart transplant.

HA feels good, but should be used infrequently so it will not weaken the skin and prematurely age it.

Alas.

Note Bene – eating it doesn’t help, either.