Acne

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is making news. Once again the skin careindustry is promoting the latest and greatest anti-agingingredient - Hyaluronic Acid as the anti-aging ingredient toreverse the aging clock.

So what is Hyaluronic acid? How does it work? Does it work as ananti-aging product for your skin? If so, is hyaluronic acid safeto use or are there site effects? What forms of hyaluronic acidare being promoted to consumers of ‘natural’ skin care products?

Let’s start out by looking at what hyaluronic acid actuallyis.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring biopolymer, whichserves important biological functions in bacteria and higheranimals including humans. Naturally occurring, hyaluronic acidmay be found in the tissue of higher animals, in particular asintercellular space filler. HA is found in greatestconcentrations in the vitreous humour of the eye and in thesynovial fluid of articular joints, but is also found in theskin, connective tissue and elsewhere in the body.

Hyaluronic acid was made ‘famous’ by an ABC News report in whichConnie Chung visited a Japanese village by the name ofYuzurihara. She found that the people there were living longer,looked younger, and were more flexible and active than theirwestern counterparts. These Japanese villagers, in their 80s and90s, have smooth wrinkle-less skin, a full head of hair andapparently no need for glasses.

So what is it, that allows these Japanese to be so much moreyouthful, lead active, productive lives at their advanced age,where as in western countries most people in their 80s andbeyond are in old-age homes?

The conclusion drawn in the ABC report was that these people ate’sticky vegetables’ and that this factor was the secret to theirapparent youth. In addition, the oestrogen-like molecules intheir diet, fermented forms of soy in miso paste and tofu, seemto play an important role. These molecules, along with naturaloestrogen, send a signal to the fibroblast cells to make morehyaluronic acid. But is this the whole answer? - I don’t thinkso, but I’ll get to this a little later.

Next, let’s look at what Hyaluronic acid does.

According to scientific research by a variety of Universitiesand researchers, hyaluronic acid is used in the human body tocushion and lubricate joints, eyes, the skin, and heart valves(see www.ctds.info/hyaluronic_acid.html for an in-depthlook at all the different diseases, syndromes and conditions).Some treatments, which involve the use of hyaluronic acidinclude: treatment for osteoarthritis and other joint problems,as well as a range of eye disorders, retinal detachment, andsome cardiovascular disorders.

However, it is in the anti-aging effect on the skin that we are focusing on in thisarticle and the effect hyaluronic acid seems to have on the skinis at the level of promoting the formation of collagen. Theseare the fibres that firm the skin. Now, hyaluronidase, an enzymethat breaks down collagen fibres, is produced by free radicalsand UV radiation.

These factors breaks down fibres of collagen can cause premature wrinkles and sagging of the skin. Focusing on hyaluronicacid, it would seem reasonable therefore, that reducing the freeradicals is a major key to reducing the hyaluronidase enzyme andsecondly to promote normal levels of hyaluronic acid in theskin.

Plant substances known as bioflavonoids, contained in foods suchas grape seed extract, blueberry, cranberry, citrusbioflavonoids and milk thistle, etc., inhibit the production ofhyaluronidase, which helps to achieve the first aim of reducingthe free radicals. In addition, reducing processed foods fromour diet, increasing the level of exercise and living a morebalanced life style will help in promoting natural levels ofhyaluronic acid in our system, not just in the skin.

When considering injecting hyaluronic acid into the skin totreat fine lines and wrinkles, we are once again loosing sightof the holistic approach to treating our bodies and thus run aserious risk of introducing factors, which may lead to sideeffects or other health problems. Further, we also run the riskof creating an imbalance in the chemical composition of the skinand who knows what possible problems await us as a result.

Some known side effects of hyaluronic acid injection therapyfor aging skin include:

* swelling

* infection

* redness

* tenderness

* acne

* lumps

* tissue hardening

* unknown risks when used in combination with collagen

These side effects are serious enough to reconsider usinginjection therapy of hyaluronic acid as an anti-aging treatmentfor the skin.

Remember too, that the people in the Japanese village do not useinjection therapy… They life an holistic life styleincorporating unprocessed foods and physical activity togetherwith a balanced mind-set and life style.

So where can you get a holistic source of hyaluronic acidfrom?

There are a couple of ways. The first is from “starchy rootvegetables” such as the ones mentioned by the village doctor inthe ABC report which include: Satsumaimo, a type of sweetpotato; Satoimo, a sticky white potato; Konyaku, a gelatinousroot vegetable concoction; and Imoji, a potato root.

These vegetables help the cells of the body to thrive and retainmoisture. Further, they keep joints lubricated, protect theretina of the eye and keep the skin smooth and elastic bypromoting collagen.

Another source of hyaluronic acid, for non-vegetarians, is toeat animal parts known to contain a lot of hyaluronic acid. Youcould make a broth from fish bones. That is, once you’ve takenoff the fillets, boil the rest of the fish, including their headand make a fish stock. Similarly, you can make a meat brothusing animal joints, sinews and tendons, then adding a few rootand other vegetables to create a healthy, nourishing soup.

In conclusion, at Wildcrafted Herbal Products we do not believethat adding isolated ingredients in elevated concentrations toour natural skin care products is a preferred option. Rather,using a holisticallynatural approach to skin care and for that matter healthcare is a far more preferable option.

Skin care is as much about taking care of your skin as it istaking responsibility and care of your overall health andwellbeing. Your skin is not an isolated part of your body andshould not be treated as such.

Again I would like to remind you of the Japanese villagers -they do not inject themselves with hyaluronic acid, they do notuse hyaluronic acid in isolation, they do however life ahealthy, active and mostly balanced life style.

About the author:

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicineand together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist andAromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Productsby Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years ofcombined expertise with you.

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2005

Filed under: Acne