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What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan, hyaluronate) is a natural large-molecule carbohydrate that is found in all tissues and breaks down within a few days after its synthesis or introduction. In the human body, it mostly acts as a water binder and as a lubricant in the joints and muscles. Its physical state and tissue-friendly nature allow it to be a component of many pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.
Advantageous Properties
Distribution of hyaluronic acid in the body: 56 % in the skin; 35 % in muscles and bones; 9 % elsewhere, for example in synovial fluid, umbilical cord, blood, lymph.
Dry hyaluronic acid is a light substance, its aqueous solution is extremely flexible and viscous even in a low concentration, for example in a 1 percent aqueous solution. The substance is similar to raw egg white, it was already used in the olden days to remove cataracts, and not so long ago, packs containing egg white were used to remove wrinkles on the face.
It occurs almost everywhere in the human body, but it is present in particularly high concentrations in the vitreous body of the eye, in the joints and skin, as well as in the intercellular material. The role of the special properties of hyaluronic acid can best be understood by its presence in the umbilical cord: the elasticity of the material enables the umbilical cord to perform its task despite twists.
Hyaluronic acid's main task is to ensure the water content of the skin and connective tissues from the inside as a natural moisturizing gel, thus its elasticity and youth, it hydrates and helps the transport of nutrients, the viscosity of the synovial fluid (= thick gel character), thereby reducing friction in the joints on the surface of the cartilages , thus protecting the cartilages against "wear and tear" resulting from mechanical trauma, thereby contributing to the flexibility and mobility of the joints.
Hyaluronic acid is continuously produced by the connective tissue cells and the hyaline cartilage cells in the joints, but as we age, its production gradually decreases, therefore the elasticity - youthfulness - of the skin and subcutaneous connective tissues decreases, wrinkles appear, the skin begins to sag, with a decrease in the viscosity and quantity of joint fluids. painful arthritis due to wear and tear also becomes more common.
Hyaluronic acid can be replaced with cosmetics or nutritional supplements. Direct injection into the skin restores the missing hyaluronic acid content of the connective tissue cells, thereby reducing wrinkles and signs of aging and restoring the youthful, elastic state of dehydrated skin.
