Hyaluronic acid is an extraordinary substance that can be used in many areas. Its use in the treatment of wrinkles and augmentation of the lips is particularly well known. But do you actually know what it is? In this article, we will enlighten you around facts about hyaluronic acid and show you how it can be used.
The miracle drug hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in the human body. It is a natural multiple sugar that is assembled from individual building blocks into a complex structure by means of the body’s own enzymes. Its fascinating property is its ability to bind vast amounts of water.
Hyaluronic acid combined with water forms a gel-like material that has many different functions in the body. It is found almost everywhere in the body and is, for example, an essential component of the eye vitreous body, bones, intervertebral discs and joints. This multiple sugar is also found in large amounts in the skin, and furthermore in connective tissue and the extracellular matrix (a part of the tissue that lies between the cells). Here it provides elasticity, volume and resilience – and thus also a youthful appearance.
Dr. Tatjana Pavicic
Dr. Tatjana Pavicic is a specialist in dermatology and venereology with her own practice in Munich. She is an internationally recognized expert in aesthetic dermatology with a special focus on dermocosmetics, botulinum toxin, fillers and lasers.
The older, the less hyaluron
Unfortunately, as we age, the amount of hyaluronic acid in the body and its tissues steadily decreases. In addition, it is no longer replenished to the same extent. Consequently, the eyes can become drier, joints crack, and mobility is limited. The loss is clearly visible on the skin – because together with the incipient breakdown of collagen, there is a decline in the filler material lying between the skin cells. The dermis loses volume and shrinks. The result? Wrinkles appear and the tissue, e.g. in the face, begins to sag.
Supply the body with hyaluron from the outside
To counteract the problems caused by the loss of hyaluronic acid, science has developed a method of obtaining it by biotechnological means. For this purpose, proteins from yeast are fermented by bacterial means. Hyaluronic acid is obtained from this by multiple filtering and purification.
In modern medicine, hyaluronic acid has been used successfully for some time, e.g. as injections in the treatment of osteoarthritis (joint wear), as drops to moisten dry eyes or as a nasal spray to protect the nasal mucosa from drying out.
Cosmetic manufacturers have also discovered the benefits of hyaluronic acid and enrich anti-wrinkle creams, gels and serums with it. However, as a rule, too low a concentration of the active ingredient is used here, which moreover – due to its molecular size – can only act superficially. Sometimes a slight tightening effect occurs. But when the product in question is discontinued, the effect immediately wears off.
Hyaluronic acid in beauty medicine
More effective and long-lasting than the commercially available products of the cosmetics industry are the possibilities offered by aesthetic dermatology / cosmetic medicine. Here hyaluronic acid can be used for various purposes.
Hyaluronic acid in wrinkle treatment
When the production of hyaluronic acid in the body decreases over the years, the tissue becomes flabbier and sags downwards. In interaction with gravity, gravitational wrinkles appear, which can be plumped up with an injection of hyaluronic acid (a so-called filler). For this purpose, the substance is injected with a fine cannula under certain skin folds and areas. In this way, it reaches the deep layers of the skin, where it unfolds its plumping and volume-reducing effect. Injections with hyaluronic acid are best used for gravity-related wrinkles such as naso-labial folds, small wrinkles around the mouth, sunken tissue, forehead wrinkles and creases on the décolleté.
Hyaluronic acid for lip augmentation/lip modeling
Treatment with hyaluronic acid can make the lip contour more prominent or increase the volume of the lip. The effect is based on the high water binding and the resulting plumping effect.
Hyaluronic acid for nose correction
Hyaluronic acid can also be used for a gentle correction of the nose. Visually noticeable and disturbing blemishes such as inequalities, dimples and bone edges that show under the skin can be made much more invisible by injection. Furthermore, the tip of the nose can be raised or a hump can be evened out. A nose that appears broad can be made visually narrower by subtly raising the bridge of the nose.
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