Cosmeceuticals—a marriage between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals—is the fastest-growing segment of the natural personal care industry. And it’s no wonder. Because if you’re like most people over 40 you want to avoid or get rid of the crow’s feet around your eyes and the vertical lines above your lips. One of the newest cosmeceuticals to hit the market is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan distributed widely throughout the body in the connective, epithelial, and neural tissues. It is one of the chief components of the extracellular matrix and contributes significantly to cell proliferation and migration. The average person has roughly 15 grams of hyaluronic acid in their body, one third of which is lost and replaced each day.1 The surface layers of the skin are supported from below by columns of fibers made up mostly of collagen and elastin. This network of fibers forms the molecular sponge known as connective tissue. The spaces within this sponge are filled with a composition of water, protein complexes, and hyaluronic acid.
This jelly-like complex transports essential nutrients from the bloodstream, via the capillaries in your skin. Hyaluronic acid attracts and holds water, which is what plumps your skin so that wrinkles and lines are less visible. With properties like that, it is clear that hyaluronic acid is vital to: In 2005, Americans spent more than $12.5 billion on cosmetic procedures that promise to help restore the dewy glow of youth. With baby boomers and more men looking for innovative ways to slow the aging process, it’s estimated that the medical-aesthetic economy—including device sales and doctors’ fees—will soon surpass $20 billion. The problem is, Botox, chemical peels, and fillers are temporary quick fixes, expensive and not without risk. Botox is delivered in tiny, non-lethal doses of botulinum toxin, which interferes with nerve function for months at a time. In the end, it could very well cause permanent nerve damage. Injected fillers meant to plump up wrinkles and lines can result in infection, bruising, swelling, and pain.
And honestly—if you’ve been trying hard to eat a healthy diet, and supplement it with nutritional supplements why would you even consider injecting your face with chemicals? Hyaluronic acid is a healthy alternative for fighting the effects of aging … and the good news is that it’s inexpensive, natural, and free of side effects. “… it’s also important to replenish diminishing stores of hyaluronic acid, because HA is one of the skin’s most important components for hydration and moisture retention.” Slathering your skin with topical creams and ointments helps protect against the elements, but the best way to maintain moist, beautiful skin is to nourish it from the inside out. Drinking 8-10 glasses of purified water each day is important, but it’s also important to replenish diminishing stores of hyaluronic acid, because HA is one of the skin’s most important components for hydration and moisture retention. And without the proper levels of HA in the upper layers of the epidermis, your skin appears dull and wrinkled.
According to this theory, it can. We’re all exposed to free radicals through daily exposure to UV rays and environmental pollutants, which inevitably degrades and destroys hyaluronic acid. HA begins to decrease in your early 20s and this accelerates when you hit 40. (In fact, 50 year olds are estimated to have less than half the hyaluronic acid of people in their 20s.)4 There is a decrease in the amount of hyaluronic fluid and its synthesis, which in turn leads to a decrease in intra-cellular fluid. This results in skin that is drier and more vulnerable to damage. The formation and maintenance of collagen, which is also vital to maintaining skin elasticity and tone, is affected. You begin to notice more crow’s feet and wrinkles because your skin loses its elasticity. Luckily, you can enhance the amount and absorption of HA by taking an inexpensive, natural nutritional supplement. And the added bonus is that HA helps support healthy joints! Although there are numerous studies on the injectable form of HA into knee joints and facial skin, at this time there are no human trials evaluating the oral benefits of hyaluronic acid.
You can spend hundreds—even thousands of dollars each year on topical moisturizers that help soften your skin. But if you want to truly give your skin the moisture it needs to maintain elasticity, strengthen collagen and minimize wrinkles and age spots, it’s a good idea to increase your levels of hyaluronic acid. Although it’s not proven, it makes sense that a natural hyaluronic acid supplement might help. And if maintaining healthy, beautiful skin is important to you, then it’s definitely worth a try. The natural health solutions described in this article are available through many on-line retailers including those listed below. By clicking these links you help support the important alternative health research we provide. Visit NutriStand – The Nutrition Newsstand from the Supplement Man for Science-Based Nutritional Supplements! Visit International Antiaging-Systems for hard to find therapies. They specialize in Tomorrow's Treatments Today™. – a great way to find competitive deals on supplements offered by many different manufacturers.
Visit VitaE8 - The Ultimate Vitamin E – to learn more about the importance of full-spectrum vitamin E supplements. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a physician before embarking on a dietary supplement program. Stern R (August 2004). “Hyaluronan catabolism: a new metabolic pathway”. Eur J Cell Biol 83 (7): 317-25. Fraser JR, Laurent TC, Laurent UB. Hyaluronan: its nature, distribution, functions and turnover. J Intern Med. 1997 Jul;242(1):27-33. Laurent TC, Laurent UB, Fraser JR. The structure and function of hyaluronan: An overview. Immunol Cell Biol. 1996 Apr;74(2). Meyer, L.J.M. & Stern, R. (1994) Age-dependent changes in hyaluronan in human skin. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 102. Commenting is not available in this channel entry.Bruising can be a common occurrence when you get facial injections. With sensitive skin areas and veins, no doctor can guarantee that you will not bruise.
To prevent bruising, you need to be prepared, so stop taking omega-3, vitamin E or flaxseed supplements at least one week prior to your procedures. You should also avoid taking ibuprofen a few days before, and finally try not to consume alcohol the night before. All of these increase your chance of bleeding and bruising.You can take one dose of arnica the morning of your appointment, and then immediately after your injections. If you do bruise, you can take it each day until bruising has subsided. I also like to apply arnica cream to the injection areas to help reduce bruising or swelling. Bromelain is a pineapple-based enzyme that also helps to reduce inflammation and bruising. You can take bromelain two to three days prior to your injections and continue for one week after. If you do bruise, there is help. First of all, continue icing the bruised areas once you get home as long as you can. Next, apply your arnica cream to the bruised areas. Now comes the tricky part because you don't want to tell the world that you just got facial injections but it looks like you were in a fight!
I recently bruised badly because I forgot to stop my flaxseed oil supplements before my treatments. I completely forgot to listen to my own advice... and during the procedure my doctor mentioned that I was bleeding more than usual, had I taken an ibuprofen or omega-3 supplements in the last few days? Of course the answer was yes, so he told me to prepare for the bruising. , $, $, $9). You also need a good concealer brush which will allow for the most accurate application. First, use your concealer brush and apply the heavy duty concealer gently. Next, use the setting powder to lightly dab the area. I also like a creamy pencil concealer because it glides over the bruise and you can take it with you for touchups (nothing like a bruise starting to show through!). , $35) to make sure nothing reveals the bruising! Another important part of getting injections is timing. Try to make your appointments at least two weeks prior to a big event just in case you have swelling or bruising.
You should also make sure they are within your budget when you do get the procedure. There are times you might need more areas treated and sometimes less, depending on how your body responds. For example, there are times when I can go longer without getting my forehead treated but definitely need to get the lines around my eyes touched up. Also, wrinkle fillers work differently on everyone, so you may not get the same results in terms of how long the fillers last as your friend. Finally, now that you have taken the plunge on facial injections, be careful not to get carried away. Some people go overboard with wrinkle freezers and fillers and develop an artificial look to their face. A good doctor will actually tell you they will not do the treatment on you at a certain point. If you feel like your face looks "different," then you have done too much. You should look like a refreshed version of yourself! Celebrity anti-aging secrets revealedThe anti-aging workoutRealistic anti-aging tips