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Hyaluronic Acid: What Is It and How Can It Help Me?

If you suffer from joint pain, want to look younger, or are in need of certain eye surgeries, perhaps you’ve already heard of hyaluronic acid. Found naturally in the human body, this substance can be used for a variety of purposes. The dermatologists at Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Institute are able to provide you with the appropriate use of hyaluronic acid based on your specific need or want.

 

Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in the human body, especially in the eyes and joints. Hyaluronic acid can also be used as a medicine for treating joint disorders such as osteoarthritis. In these cases, the acid is often extracted from rooster combs or made by bacteria in a laboratory. The acid can be administered orally or injected into the actual joint.

Aside from helping relieve joint pain, hyaluronic acid can also be injected into the eyes of those needing cataract removal, corneal transplants, or other eye surgeries to help replace natural fluids. Other uses include skin application (for healing wounds and decreasing pain), as well as using hyaluronic acid as a lip filler or to prevent a variety of cosmetic effects of aging.

 

How it Works

Hyaluronic acid has many different uses and different benefits. In your joints and tissue, hyaluronic acid acts as a cushion and lubricant to assist your body in responding to an injury. It can also be injected or taken daily as a supplement. Used as a gel, it can be effective for treating mouth sores. Lastly, it can also be injected into facial wrinkles to temporarily reduce their appearance, and to reduce the signs of aging and sun damage. These injections are called dermal fillers and popular, FDA-approved fillers include Restylane, Restylane Lyft and Juvederm. Each injectable is designed to treat different problem areas such as cheeks, hands, lips or the face in general.

If you prefer to skip the injection but still want to avoid some effects of aging, you can take 120-240 mg of hyaluronic acid daily as a supplement. An alternative would be to use a topical hyaluronic serum and apply it directly to the skin. Research also shows that injecting hyaluronic acid into the bladder can help reduce the causes of urinary tract infections (UTI). Acid reflux can also be aided by using a hyaluronic acid supplement.

Are There Risks?

Very few side effects have been reported. Since the body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, there is little risk from topical use, injection, or oral use. Nevertheless, those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have cancer or a history of cancer should use caution and speak to a medical professional before considering hyaluronic acid.

The many benefits often outweigh the minimal risks of taking or injecting hyaluronic acid. You can finally rid yourself of joint pain, have a successful eye surgery, reverse the effects of aging, and more.

 

We Can Help

If you live in Bloomington, Illinois or the surrounding areas and think hyaluronic acid could benefit you, get in touch with the dermatologists at Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Institute.

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