Hyaluronic acid is a little known acid that has many health benefits. It is especially popular in cosmetics as a treatment for aging skin. While more research is necessary to find out all that hyaluronic acid can do, there are clearly hyaluronic acid benefits that have been known. Hyaluronic acid isn't just something put in the skin. It is in our bodies and helps us look good all the time. What exactly is hyaluronic acid and what benefits can it bring us?

What Is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is also called HA, hyaluronate, or hyaluronan. It is a mucopolysaccharide that occurs normally in our bodies. It is a long molecule, consisting of thousands of single sugars linked together. It is soluble in water and forms a gel when mixed with water. This substance is one of the most highly studied molecules among medical researchers with at least a thousand medical trials on the substance relating to its use in eye surgery and orthopedic surgery.

Hyaluronic acid is considered a high molecular weight substance. It is made from glucuronic acid and N-acetyl glucosamine, two simple sugars that have been modified by the body. The substance is negatively charged, so it doesn't fold up but instead stretches out into a long chain. Hyaluronic acid provides a lot of lubrication in the body. It is not easily compressed and helps the skin and joint against the forces of gravity. Because of its components, there are many hyaluronic acid benefits in all parts of the body.

What Are the Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid?

Some of the hyaluronic acid's benefits are purely cosmetic, while others have more biological functions. Here are some things hyaluronic acid does for you:

1.   Hyaluronic Acid and the Skin

About 50 percent of the hyaluronic acid in the body is found in the skin as part of collagen. Hyaluronic acid holds onto about 1000 times its molecular weight in water found in the skin of the body. This means it provides a lot of moisture to the skin. No other body substance has this property, which means hyaluronic acid can decrease wrinkles, soften the skin, and make the skin seem smoother. It also takes away waste products from the cellular structures, even in areas where the circulation is poor.

Hyaluronic acid is now considered by researchers to be just as valuable as collagen—perhaps even more so. It is especially used as part of therapy against aging and in cosmetic procedures that attempt to remove wrinkles and other imperfections of the skin. Because hyaluronic acid is broken down by the body all the time, these procedures need to be done repetitively to have the same effect and the procedures aren't cheap.

In the video below, a lady talks about her experience of using hyaluronic acid for skin:

2.   Hyaluronic Acid and the Joints

One of the hyaluronic acid benefits is to the joints. Some people use glucosamine for their arthritis. Glucosamine is one of a collection of molecules also described as glycosaminoglycans. When you take these substances, you are able to have more flexible joints that are healthier and stronger. Hyaluronic acid is one of the glycosaminoglycans, working to absorb the shock on the joints when walking or doing other activities. It also helps remove wastes in the body that come out of the loss of the collagen matrix in the joint. This is how it relieves joint pain. Hyaluronic acid is also an antioxidant, meaning that it prevents the loss of cartilage in the joints from oxygen free radicals. Hyaluronic acid must be injected into knee joints; this is a somewhat expensive procedure. Because it breaks down quickly, these types of injections need to be done several times over a period of time.

3.   Hyaluronic Acid and the Eyes

You will find that one of the hyaluronic acid's benefits is to give the eye its shape. It is found in the eye's vitreous substance and is normally found in healthy eyes. When it is used in surgery, it can be used to manage patients undergoing cataract surgery and in those who suffer from glaucoma. One of its benefits is to help increase healing of the eye after surgery. Because it is a great lubricant, hyaluronic acid can be used in people who suffer from a dry eye condition. Taking hyaluronic acid by mouth is also believed to improve a person's vision. As we get older, there is less hyaluronic acid in the tissues of the eyes and this can negatively affect vision. Thus, you need hyaluronic acid to support the structures of the eye.

4.   Hyaluronic Acid and Gum Disease

Gum disease is very common, affecting 75 percent of adults who are over 35 years of age. In this age group, it is gum disease rather than cavities that cause the most tooth loss. One of the hyaluronic acid benefits is that it is a part of the connective tissue in the gums, allowing for the growth of healthy gum tissue and helping to reduce the inflammation in the gums that can cause the gums to bleed. When used for the gums, hyaluronic acid is put on the gums as a gel to reduce bleeding of the gums and to partially correct gum disease.

So, How to Supplement Hyaluronic Acid

So you may just want to increase hyaluronic acid in your body because of its benefits, then you need to see a doctor to have some types of hyaluronic acid given to you by injection, but you can find it in oral forms at many health stores, on the internet, and in some drug stores. You need to take hyaluronic acid in oral form for 2-4 months in order to see any real benefit. When you notice a benefit from taking hyaluronic acid, this is the time to lessen the dose of the substance. More research is needed to see how taking oral hyaluronic acid works when taken in pill form.

There is no doubt that hyaluronic acid has many benefits to many parts of the body and new things about this acid are being uncovered all the time. It is an essential part of the human body, without which many body systems would be unable to work. However, remember to take supplements cautiously and ask your doctor about whether or not you should be taking in this supplement. Read as much as you can about hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid benefits before going out and purchasing a bottle of it.