So what is hyaluronic acid for skin, and why is it so popular and highly discussed? Read on to learn what HA is and how it works in skincare treatments and products.
Over the past couple of years, it seems that everywhere you turn, you see a commercial or ad related to hyaluronic acid, aka HA. When you learn about HA and its impact in the body, you might begin to understand why it’s become a household cosmetic term that’s exponentially gained in popularity relatively recently.
So what is all the hype about when it comes to hyaluronic acid? We turn to Houston-based Aesthetician Krys Givens to find out!
What is hyaluronic acid for skin?
“Hyaluronic acid, or HA, is a naturally occurring substance that the body produces,” shares Givens, “The natural production of HA declines as we age and can also be disrupted when the balance of the fatty-acid mantle in the skin is interrupted through use of drying products or regimens, over exfoliation, medications, disease processes, and very commonly, over-exposure to nature’s elements, like the sun, wind, cold, and so on.”
Why has HA become so popular?
It’s not that HA is anything new. After all, it’s a naturally occurring substance in our skin and HA dermal fillers, like Juvederm and Restylane, have been made from HA for years. It’s just taken some time for its benefits to catch on to the general population.
Givens points out that “hyaluronic acid has become an industry buzzword because HA is key to rebalancing skin, whether it is dry, dull, compromised in some way – such as red, irritated, itchy, flaky, or sensitive skin – or fine lines or rough texture are setting in.”
As a result, including HA as part of your skin care routine brings a wealth of benefits to your skin.
“When you include proper forms of HA in your aesthetic treatment plan and home care regimen, your skin will not only appear healthier, it will become healthier! You’ll visually notice improvements in your skin through a healthy glow, smoother skin, and softening of fine lines over time.”
What are some of the best HA skin care treatments and products?
If you’re seeking a 5-star hyaluronic acid for skin product to use at home, Givens recommends SkinMedica’s newly released HA Hydra Collagen.
“The best HA product on the market is SkinMedica’s HA5 Hydra Collagen! SkinMedica’s legacy HA5 proved itself time and again to better the health of my patient’s skin,” Givens continues, “However, the newly reformulated SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen offers two times more hyaluronic acid content, offering a deeper level of hydration with five types of HA plus Hydra Collagen to restore hydration in the skin. This product literally helps your skin attract and retain moisture, providing both short and long-term hydration, and thereby, brings restoration to the skin barrier.”
If you’re wondering what the difference is between SkinMedica’s medical-grade HA5 treatment and other HA treatments you can buy at your local department or drug store, it comes down to the amount, type, and overall benefits in the latter products.
“Many over-the-counter HA products include only one form of hyaluronic acid in its formulation – sodium hyaluronate. While this key ingredient is also included in the formulation of HA5 Hydra Collagen, sodium hyaluronate offers only short-term hydration, which is why HA5 has been scientifically formulated with various forms of HA, alongside other proven ingredients, that immediately result in healthy, plump, dewy skin, as well as change the physical state of skin for the better with continued, consistent use.”
Even with the most powerful HA skincare product, you might need to support your skin to help it absorb this amazing treatment, as Given points out:
“Do note, if the skin has a layer of too much dry skin at the epidermal level, your products may not be able to reach the proper layers where key ingredients can effectively do their job – and in this case, you may need professional exfoliation for optimal skin health. Your DermaTouch RN Aesthetician can help build a customized aesthetic treatment plan and skincare regimen that addresses your personal skin concerns.”
Some other SkinMedica HA5 skincare treatments include the original HA5 serum and the HA5 Lip System.
Can you naturally stimulate HA production?
So, can we do anything naturally to stimulate HA production, and are there any aesthetic treatments that help to stimulate our production of HA? According to Givens, yes, there are!
Given states, “HA can be stimulated through aesthetic services that provide the right environment during the injury process – they’re not too hot, not too cold. For example, some services offered at DermaTouch RN that may help restore or stimulate the production of HA include Sofwave, HALO – ever heard of the “HALO glow?!” – CoolPeel, SkinVive – a microdroplet injectable HA – biostimulators, and, of course, DiamondGlow! Additionally, certain foods and supplements may help support healthy levels of HA throughout the body and skin.”
- Sofwave stimulates collagen production by using Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam Technology. It’s FDA cleared for reducing fine lines & wrinkles and lifting the submental, neck, and eyebrow.
- Halo laser treatments use hybrid technology to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and more.
- CoolPeel is an ablative laser that treats several skin concerns, including rosacea, enlarged pores, lines and wrinkles, premature aging, acne scarring, and more.
- SkinVive by Juvederm helps to smooth the cheeks and the skin retain its natural moisture and softness through an injectable treatment.
- Biostimulators are injected into the skin to help the skin stimulate its own collagen production, adding volume over time.
- DiamondGlow treatments use a three-in-one technology to cleanse, exfoliate, and treat the skin to help you look refreshed and glowing.
Consider a skin care consultation
Givens suggests you schedule a consultation today with DermaTouch RN or your local Aesthetician (if you’re outside of the Houston or San Antonio, Texas areas) to find out the specific needs of your skin and the best approach to adding hyaluronic acid for skin into your skincare regimen.
Schedule a consultation with DermaTouch RN online 24/7!
Krys Givens, Aesthetician
AESTHETICIAN
Krys is a Medical Aesthetician with a long-standing passion for the beauty and wellness industry. She is a lifelong learner and is driven by the opportunity to help patients achieve their best and most confident self through proven aesthetic applications. She works with each patient, individually, to help them achieve their personal aesthetic needs and goals through attentive communication and patient education.
DermaTouch RN offers minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments for men and women in Houston, San Antonio, Spring and Cypress, as well as the surrounding areas of Texas. We are the largest aesthetic practice in the Houston area, and all of our medical spa treatments are performed by a team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and aestheticians who receive continuing education to remain abreast of emerging treatments that benefit our patients. We invite you to learn more about our office before your consultation.
