You may have seen it as a dietary supplement or in a popular skin care cream or serum. But what exactly is hyaluronic acid? And perhaps more importantly, what can it do for you?
Hyaluronic acid (also known as hyaluronan or hyaluronate) is a carbohydrate compound that occurs naturally in the body and is mostly found in connective tissues and skin cells. It is essential to the body’s proper functioning because it aids in the delivery of nutrients to cells without a blood supply. One such example is cartilage, which relies on hyaluronic acid to help maintain lubrication and moisture.
For this reason, hyaluronic acid supplementation may help support joint health, comfort and mobility by keeping tissues within the joints hydrated and nourished. Topical hyaluronic acid application may have a similar effect on skin, promoting moisture retention, elasticity and collagen production to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.