Hyaluronic acid (HA) or sodium hyaluronate is a ubiquitous biopolymer found in connective, epithelial, and neural mammalian tissues. HA is a high molecular weight (1000-3000K Daltons), anionic polysaccharide that is a composed of repeating disaccharide units of d-glucuronic acid and n-acetyl-d-glucosamine. HA is highly hygroscopic and can bind up to 1000 times its weight in water.
Reported skin benefits for HA include:
• High MW HA moisturizes skin and forms viscous solutions with a highly lubricating skin feel.
• A 50K MW HA increases skin elasticity and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
• Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronic Acid moistures skin and maintains skin elasticity better over time vs a non- acetylated grade. It is also claimed to be less sticky and stringy.
• Oligo HA-can penetrate into the Stratum Corneum, also binds moisture better than the high MW grade
• N Acetyl Glucosamine has skin lightening properties, penetrates skin easily, and increases cell turn over. Italso has been shown to moisturize skin and improve skin elasticity.
• Oral supplements of HA have been shown to improve skin hydration and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
• A cream containing .2% low MW HA was shown to significantly improve Rosacea.